Posted on January 9, 2008

UK Employers Face Tough Sanctions For Hiring Illegal Immigrants

Radio Jamaica, January 4, 2008

This has come about as the British government tightens its immigration restrictions against illegal immigrants.

The campaign is expected to be in the form of radio and newspaper advertisements beginning January 14.

Under the campaign the message to employers is that they will face fines of up to 10,000 pounds and up to two years in prison for negligently hiring illegal immigrants under new rules to be implemented next month.

The crackdown on illegal work is part of the biggest shake-up of the immigration system for 40 years.

Other immigration changes this year will include a new e-Borders programme allowing people to be counted in and out of the country and biometric ID cards for foreign nationals in the country for more than three months.

Many of the illegal immigrants are from Jamaica and other Caribbean territories.