Wigan eateries fined over illegal workers

Corleone Pizza in Pemberton and the Taz Mahal restaurant in Platt Bridge were both fined £15,000 last year for hiring workers who did not have legal rights to work in the UK, the immigration department has revealed.

Other news: Crash waiting to happen at Wigan junction

Sarham Ibrahim Ammar, who is liable to pay the fine for the takeaway pizza store, as well as the owners of Taz Mahal Ltd were yet to pay their fines when the document was released earlier this month.

The Ormskirk Road pizza delivery service was served a civil penalty notice of £15,000 on August 21, 2017 for hiring one employee who had no permission to work in the UK.

Similarly, the Walthew Lane takeaway received its penalty notice on May 25 last year for hiring a single employee illegally.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Those who use and exploit illegal workers face severe financial penalties.

“We are happy to work with businesses to ensure the right pre-employment checks are carried out, but those intent on operating outside the law will be found and will be punished.

“Using illegal labour is not victimless. It cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest businesses and cheats legitimate job seekers of employment opportunities.

“We robustly pursue debts owed by employers of illegal immigrants.”

The Wigan Post was unable to contact either party for comment.

Although last year saw two businesses break immigration law; the number has dropped significantly since 2016 when there were five businesses fined a total of £105,000 for employing illegal workers.

Archie’s Tyres and Car Wash on Leigh Road, Kahuli’s Kitchen - which has since closed down, Billinge Supper Bar, 100 Menu Catering Ltd and Sam’s Barber Shop on Wigan Lane were all slapped with fines ranging from £10,000 to £45,000,

Each fine is based on how many illegal workers are found to be employed by the business.