Preventing Illegal Working In Your Business

 

When recruiting, it is important to understand the rules regarding a prospective worker’s entitlement to work in the country. In the UK, some people are automatically entitled to work here, whilst others may have restrictions on how long they are allowed to stay and the type of work they can do.

 

It is the responsibility of all employers in the UK to prevent illegal migrant working and this is why passports are always checked during the recruitment process. As an employer you need to check each candidate’s entitlement to work in the UK before hiring them.

 

Failure to do so could mean that you are liable to pay a civil penalty. If you knowingly employ an illegal migrant worker, then you could face criminal prosecution, therefore I cannot stress how important it is to check every candidate’s passport details.

 

Once the prospective worker has presented you with the necessary documents to prove their eligibility to work in the UK our 4 top tips are:

1.		Validity -First you need to satisfy yourself that the document(s) are valid and genuine. Make sure they are not tampered with either.
2.		True Likeness -Check that the photograph is a true likeness to the candidate and that the birth dates match their physical appearance.
3.		Does it all match? -Check that all relevant details on the passport or documents match the job application submitted by the candidate.
4.		Check some useful websites Business Link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1079133778   Home Office Border Agency http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/preventingillegalworking/

 

This may sound like a lot to take in, but with a few checks you can make sure everything is above board. Remember you are not expected to be an expert on forged documents, but you should always conduct a careful visual check in order to satisfy yourself that the documents presented are genuine and relevant to the person presenting them.

 

Also make sure that you keep a record of the documents shown, either by photocopying them or scanning. You can even save a copy electronically on a non-rewritable disk.

 

For more information on what to look for in a passport when recruiting why not contact People Vision HR Recruitment.

 

Call us on 0845 4599710 or email us on info@pvhr-recruitment.com

 

Article Written By

Alyson Pellowe - Managing Consultant