Southend cleaning company fined £15,000 for illegal worker

New figures published by the Home Office have revealed Southend-based Leisure Clean and Support Limited, which employs hundreds of staff across the country, has been fined £15,000.

The data is released to the public every three months and the latest figures relate to penalties issued between October 1 and December 31 last year.

Dave Mason, managing director of the Eastwoodbury Lane-based firm, confirmed the company is challenging the penalty.

Leisure Clean and Support Limited is a cleaning company based in Southend (Image: Unsplash)

He said more than 300 people work for the company which “carries out all the relevant checks on all staff applicants before starting employment”.

He said: “All non-UK citizens must supply their ‘share code’ at interview stage. Along with this, photo ID must be shown and copies are taken.

“Regular checks are carried out to ensure all staff apply with the regulations.”

A share code can be requested to prove an employee’s immigration status and right to work in the UK.

“We are contesting the current fine as all checks were carried out on the said person and the company was not at fault,” Mr Mason added.

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What does the law say?

If a business knowingly employs someone who doesn't have the right to work in the UK, bosses can be sent to prison for five years and made to pay an unlimited fine.

Penalties can also be handed out to firms which employ someone who does not have the right to work in the UK after failing to do the correct checks or not doing them properly.

The maximum fine was hiked to up to £60,000 for each illegal worker earlier this year.

Sohan Sidhu, an immigration solicitor at the Essex-based law firm Ellisons, said at the time: “Employers need to be extremely vigilant, especially as civil penalties are not the only consequence for an employer found to be employing illegal workers.“

Warning - immigration lawyer Sohan Sidhu (Image: Sohan Sidhu/Paul Cudmore)

A popular Turkish restaurant in south Essex was also among the 54 employers named and shamed by the Home Office last week.

The Kara Lounge, in Chafford Hundred near Grays, has been fined £40,000 by immigration officials, records reveal.

The restaurant in Fleming Road was invited to comment.