The BCC has welcomed the latest initiative from the government to deal with cleaning contractors who employ illegal migrants.
Immigration Minister, James Brokenshire, said businesses that employ illegal workers will be hit with “the full force of government machinery”
He said “rogue employers” who give work to illegal migrants were denying UK citizens jobs, driving down wages and gaining an “unfair advantage”.
The Home Office is now targeting raids on cleaning contractors, and also care homes and building sites, in a bid to tackle the growing problem.
BCC Chairman, Simon Hollingbery, said: “ We have been working with the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team for a number of months on this issue and welcome this proposed action”
Sarah Burton, Assistant Director of Immigration Enforcement in West London promised there would be more help for those cleaning contractors that do stay within the law, but said that the time was now right to get tougher with those that don’t.
She said: “we want to work with the cleaning industry to assist those employers who want to do the right thing and employ only those that are allowed to work, but perhaps need more support in doing so. On the flip side of that we want to tackle those employers who deliberately flout the rules and have no intention of complying.”
Sarah Burton will be a special guest at the next BCC Council meeting in October, where members will be able to ask her questions directly.