A recent case involving a former company director in Hartlepool and Guisborough underlines the importance of checking employees’ right to work in the UK. Edris Ali, 39, who previously ran a pizza restaurant and a car wash, was banned as a director for ten years after hiring six illegal workers from Iran, Sudan, and Cote d’Ivoire. The workers were discovered during Immigration Enforcement visits, leading to substantial fines and legal action against Ali.

Ali employed two individuals without work authorisation at Tasty Pizza restaurant in Hartlepool and a further four at Bubbles Car Valeting in Guisborough. His actions resulted in penalties of £20,000 and £60,000, respectively, for the businesses, alongside the ten-year ban from company directorship.

Takeaway point

The High Court ruling against Ali serves as an important reminder for employers to check each employee’s right to work in the UK before they begin employment.

Under UK law, employers must carry out simple right-to-work checks before employing someone. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in severe penalties.

The Home Office provides guidance on how and when to conduct a right to work check. The guidance is periodically updated with the last update being published in September 2024.

Following the guidance provides your business with protection. If it was later found that someone employed by you did not in fact have a right to do the work in question, you would not be charged a penalty if you had correctly conducted right to work checks.

For a copy of the guidance, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide

For more on the High Court ruling, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ten-year-ban-for-teesside-director-who-hired-illegal-workers-at-pizzeria-and-car-wash