URGENT UPDATE: Seven businesses in Merseyside have been collectively fined £320,000 for employing illegal workers, according to new data from the Home Office. These penalties, issued as part of the latest crackdown on illegal employment, underscore the government’s intensified efforts to combat labor exploitation.
Between April 1 and June 30, 2023, multiple businesses across Liverpool were implicated, including several car wash and takeaway establishments. Notably, one firm, Supershine Hand Car Wash on Orrell Road, received a staggering fine of £90,000.
The full breakdown of the fines includes:
– Capital Auto Wash, Liverpool: £55,000
– Q-Park Liverpool ONE: £55,000
– Green Lane Hand Car Wash, Woburn Hill, Liverpool: £40,000
– Euro Hand Car Wash & Valeting Centre, Bowring Park Road, Liverpool: £40,000
– The Lodge Lane Hand Carwash, Lodge Lane, Liverpool: £55,000
– Munchies, Granby Street, Liverpool: £40,000
Additionally, businesses outside Merseyside also faced penalties. Four Seasons on High Street in Runcorn was fined £45,000, while Splendid Hand Car Wash in Widnes received an £80,000 fine.
These fines are part of the Home Office’s quarterly report detailing penalties for employers who fail to comply with regulations regarding illegal working. Officials emphasize that penalties can reach up to £45,000 per illegal worker for first offenses and £60,000 for repeat violations.
A 2020 report from the Local Government Association highlighted the prevalence of exploitative labor practices within the hand car wash sector. Authorities warn that consumers may unknowingly support operations that exploit vulnerable workers.
A spokesperson for the Home Office stated,
“Illegal working undermines honest employers, undercuts local wages, and fuels the criminal industry of immigration crime. This government is determined to clamp down on that illegal activity in every sector where it occurs, including car washes.”
As illegal working enforcement intensifies, the Home Office reported a 50% increase in visits and arrests compared to the previous year. The government plans to further escalate these actions in the coming months.
WHAT’S NEXT: Authorities continue to monitor compliance among local businesses. The public is urged to report any suspicious activities to help combat illegal employment practices. Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.
