Chinese takeaway face fines of £40,000 over illegal workers

Monday, 1st March 2010

Two Chinese takeaway restaurants in Hartlepool face fines totalling up to £40,000 after being caught employing illegal workers.

UK Border Agency officers visited Lee Garden Takeaway in Northgate, and Chinatown Takeaway in Sydenham Road, on Thursday 18 February. In each case officers questioned staff and examined documents to check they were entitled to work in the UK.Among the staff at Lee Garden were two Chinese men, aged 29 and 39, and a Chinese woman aged 28. The men were working as chefs at the rear of the restaurant, while the woman was working on the front counter. None of them had permission to work in the UK.

As a result the employer was served with a notice of potential liability (NOPL) in relation to the illegal workers, and could face collective fines of up to £30,000.

Keywords: worker, workers, employment, illegal, working, illegal workers, china town, chinese, resturant, Harltepool, takeaway, fines,