Government calls for employer insights to combat illegal working 

The consultation is seeking views on how this change should be operationalised and enforced, as well as how processes can be simplified to make it easier for employers to fulfil their responsibilities.

Minister's view

Alex Norris, minister for border security and asylum, said: “These legislative amendments will restrict the ability of rogue employers to take advantage of illegal workers and encourage businesses to provide work opportunities to those permitted to work in the UK.  

“It will provide parity across industries and will set a level playing field for businesses to uphold their responsibilities to prevent illegal working in the UK. 

"This safeguard will also ensure that businesses acting lawfully will not be undercut on labour costs by those who exploit the system.”

Norris added that the future introduction of digital ID cards will create a “simpler, more consistent way for employers to check someone’s right to work”, making it harder for people to avoid checks or use forged documents.

The consultation, which closes on 10 December, can be found here.