A PAIR of takeaways which employed illegal workers have been fined.

Following checks from government immigration enforcement teams, The Fat Pizza in Paycocke Road, Basildon, was found to have two workers who had no legal right to work in the UK.

At the Pink Chilliz, an Indian restaurant in Kiln Road, Benfleet, one employee was found with no legal right to work.

The Basildon takeaway was hit with a £30,000 fine, while Pink Chilliz owners were fined £10,000.

Fat Pizza and Pink Chilliz were both contacted for comment.

Council bosses said the punishments were not nearly heavy enough - but also worried about the working conditions for the staff in question.

Kevin Blake, deputy leader of Basildon Council, said: “There has got to be a firm punishment and this fine is no deterrent at all. Businesses should be employing Basildon people who want to work and are able to legally.

READ MORE >>>

“The firm should be given a much larger fine - I feel that even £300,000 wouldn’t have been enough.

“The business should not have done this and I think they’ve got what’s coming to them but it should have been a tougher penalty.”

The staff were discovered working at The Fat Pizza on January 14, and at Pink Chilliz on December 2 last year.

Dave Blackwell, Canvey Independent leader of Castle Point Council, added: “Businesses know the rules and regulations, especially in this day and age.

“The worse thing about it is we don’t know the living conditions and what pay they were getting. I fully support the action taken here by the Government.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “The government is tackling illegal immigration and the harm it causes by removing those with no right to be in the UK.

“We continue to work with law enforcement agencies to tackle illegal migration in all its forms.

Would it put you off going to Fat Pizza and Pink Chilliz knowing that they broke the law by employing these staff ?

Email basildon.echonews@ newsquest.co.uk