Sanzioni civili per lavoro nero

In the UK, employers have a legal responsibility to make sure that every person they hire has the right to work. This sounds simple, but the reality can be more complicated, especially with changing immigrazione rules and increased Home Office enforcement. When something goes wrong,  even unintentionally,  the consequences can be serious. If the Home Office believes a business has hired someone who is not permitted to work, and the correct checks were not completed, they can issue what is known as a civil penalty for illegal working.

These penalties can be financially damaging and extremely disruptive for any organisation. In recent years, the Home Office has become far more active in investigating employers, carrying out site visits and asking for employee documentation. For businesses, this can be a worrying and confusing experience, particularly when they believed they were doing everything correctly. This article can provide insight on how civil penalties work and what we can do to help.

Che cos'è una sanzione civile per lavoro nero?

A civil penalty is a financial fine issued by the Home Office to an employer who is believed to have hired someone who is not legally allowed to work in the UK. Although it is not a criminal conviction, it can still cause serious harm to a business because the penalties are high.

As of February 2024, employers can now face up to £45,000 per worker for a first breach and up to £60,000 per worker for repeat breaches within three years. These fines apply per worker, meaning the total amount can add up quickly if more than one worker is involved.

A worker is considered to be working illegally if they do not have permission to work in the UK, if their visa has expired, if their visa conditions do not allow them to do the particular job, or if they relied on false or invalid documents. Importantly, an employer can still face a penalty even if they genuinely did not realise there was an issue if the proper right to work checks were not carried out, the employer may still be held liable.

Come la Brexit ha cambiato le cose

Brexit brought about one of the most significant changes to right to work rules in decades. Before Brexit, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens could work in the UK freely. Employers only needed to check a passport or national ID card, and many businesses relied on this for years. After Brexit, this changed completely, most European nationals now need immigration permission in the same way as non-EU nationals, unless they have status under the EU Settlement Scheme. A European passport alone is no longer enough to prove the right to work. In many cases, employers must carry out a Home Office online right to work check.

Questo cambiamento ha generato confusione e inadempienze accidentali, soprattutto per i datori di lavoro che hanno continuato a fare affidamento sulle pratiche precedenti alla Brexit. Di conseguenza, il Ministero dell'Interno ha aumentato l'attività di controllo e ha emesso più rapidamente sanzioni civili. Le aziende devono ora prestare molta più attenzione e assicurarsi che il personale comprenda le regole aggiornate.

Come iniziano le indagini

A Home Office investigation can begin in several ways, sometimes it starts with an on site visit. In other cases, the Home Office receives information from another agency, a compliance audit reveals issues, or the business holds a Sponsor Licence and is subject to routine checks.

During an investigation, the Home Office may request copies of employment contracts, right to work checks, payroll information, rotas, and details about who is responsible for recruitment and HR decisions. They volontà look closely at how the business operates and whether the correct procedures were followed.

If they believe a breach has occurred, they will issue a Civil Penalty Notice, which outlines the penalty amount, the evidence relied upon, and the employer’s rights to challenge the penalty.

Che cosa succede quando viene emesso un avviso di sanzione civile?

Under Section 15 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, the Home Office have the authority to impose a civil penalty if an organisation has employed someone who is not allowed to work in the UK and they cannot rely on a statutory excuse.

Tuttavia, ricevere una notifica di sanzione civile può risultare sconvolgente, soprattutto per le aziende che ritenevano di essere in regola. Possiamo aiutarvi a identificare i potenziali motivi di contestazione e guidare l'azienda attraverso il processo per ridurre al minimo l'impatto sull'organizzazione.

Many penalties can be reduced or cancelled if the employer can show that they did not employ the individual, that the correct right-to-work checks were done, or that the Home Office made an error. A well-prepared response, supported by evidence, can significantly improve the employer’s chances of achieving a positive outcome.

Successi dei clienti

Il nostro studio ha aiutato molti datori di lavoro a superare con successo le indagini sulle sanzioni civili. In un caso recente, il Ministero dell'Interno ha effettuato una visita di routine presso la sede di un nostro cliente e ha affermato che quest'ultimo aveva assunto un lavoratore illegalmente. Il cliente era comprensibilmente angosciato e la potenziale multa era notevole.

The Home Office referred our client to the Civil Penalty Compliance Team who issued our client a Referral Notice and they were required to respond within 10 working days.

Abbiamo effettuato una verifica interna e abbiamo scoperto che la persona in questione non era affatto impiegata dall'azienda. Non esistevano registri di lavoro, né registrazioni di buste paga, né legami contrattuali con questa persona. Abbiamo anche spiegato la struttura dell'azienda, chiarendo che le decisioni sul personale venivano prese da un'entità separata all'interno del gruppo. Abbiamo raccolto prove, preparato documenti scritti dettagliati e presentato una spiegazione chiara al Ministero degli Interni.

Dopo aver esaminato le nostre dichiarazioni, il Ministero dell'Interno ha accettato che il nostro cliente non fosse il datore di lavoro e non ha intrapreso ulteriori azioni. Ciò ha evitato una significativa sanzione finanziaria e ha protetto la reputazione dell'azienda.

Conclusione

Le sanzioni civili per lavoro nero possono sembrare opprimenti, soprattutto quando arrivano inaspettate o quando si credeva che la propria azienda fosse pienamente conforme. Le multe sono elevate, le regole sono severe e il Ministero dell'Interno spesso si muove rapidamente.

Non dovete affrontare tutto questo da soli. Molte sanzioni possono essere contestate, ridotte o completamente annullate con la giusta guida legale e una risposta ben preparata.

If you have received a Civil Penalty Notice, or if the Home Office has contacted you about an investigation, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Early action makes a significant difference to the outcome. Our immigration team is here to supporto you, protect your business and help you achieve the best possible result.