On 1 May 2004 changes to the law came into effect to prevent the employment of illegal workers. [The relevant legislation, Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, has been amended to reflect the new provisions.] This means that since that date employers are required by law to undertake new checks before employing an individual.
What is the new law all about?
It is now essential for all employers in the UK to make the necessary new checks to ensure that the person they are considering employing is allowed to work legally in this country. Failure to do so will place the employer at risk of committing a criminal offence, so it is therefore vital that employers are aware of the responsibility on them and that they know how to discharge that responsibility adequately and confidently.