Reform UK has announced a policy proposal that would make company executives personally and criminally liable for employing illegal workers. Under the plan, chief executives and directors of large companies found to be profiting from illegal labor could face imprisonment, regardless of their personal knowledge of the workers' immigration status. This proposed liability would mirror existing rules for senior managers concerning financial misconduct under Financial Conduct Authority regulations.
The party also outlined plans to impose fines equivalent to 10% of a company's global revenue on larger firms. Reform UK stated its objective is to prevent delivery and gig economy companies from profiting from illegal workers without facing consequences. Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesperson, argued that the current situation disadvantages young British workers and undermines the broader economy.
Reform UK also proposed the creation of a dedicated public hotline for reporting suspected illegal working or organized criminal activity. Police and other authorities, including trading standards teams, would be mandated to investigate these reports. Individuals whose tips lead to successful prosecutions would be eligible to receive a share of any fines imposed.
Yusuf asserted that these measures would represent the strictest penalties for illegal working globally. Currently, organizations found in breach of immigration laws are subject to fines, with one council recently fined £45,000 for employing a single illegal worker.
However, a Home Office source dismissed Reform UK's proposals as "empty posturing," indicating that the government is already taking action. The Home Office spokesperson stated that the department is actively closing loopholes that enable illegal work, including extending right-to-work checks to the gig economy and delivery sectors. The spokesperson added that employers who violate the law face severe penalties, including fines up to £60,000 per illegal worker, business closures, license revocations, and prison sentences of up to five years. The Home Office also noted that since the Labour party came to power, Immigration Enforcement actions have increased significantly, with arrests for illegal working up by 83% and raids up by 77%.