Over the last year, 12 million in fines has been issued to employers and recruiters for failing to carry out adequate checks to verify candidates’ right to work in the UK, according to Giant, back office solutions provider to the recruitment industry. According to data obtained under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, the UK Border Agency has issued 6,953 Notification of Liability (NOLs) notices with a total value of 65.3 million since the new system was introduced in February 2008.This new system gave the UK Border Agency the power to issue civil penalties of up to 10,000 to employers for every illegal worker. Despite the tougher regime, not all employers and recruiters consistently carry out right to work checks during the recruitment process. Matthew Brown, MD of Giant, said: “With unemployment high and immigration a burning political issue, employers and recruiters need to make doubly sure that candidates are fully vetted.”
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