Crackdown on Illegal Working: What Employers and Migrant Employees Need to Know

Introduction

The UK government has recently stepped up its efforts to enforce sponsor licenses, and businesses across the country are feeling the effects. In January alone, enforcement teams raided 828 different premises, including nail bars, car washes, and restaurants. These raids led to 609 arrests; a significant 73% increase compared to the same time last year.

Understanding the Crackdown on Sponsor Licence Compliance

The start of 2025 has seen an unprecedented rise in Home Office enforcement visits, with a significant number of employers and sponsored workers facing serious consequences. Compliance raids have led to sponsor license terminations, detentions, and penalties for businesses. If you are an employer or a worker affected by these actions, it is important to understand your rights and options.

Why are these raids happening?

The Home Office figures reveal a dramatic increase in compliance visits in January alone, with hundreds of arrests and thousands of businesses subjected to scrutiny. Key sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, and logistics have been particularly affected.

Many businesses rely on sponsored workers but stricter enforcement means that even minor errors in compliance could result in penalties, visa suspensions, or loss of the right of the right to work in the UK.

Consequences for Employers

For businesses holding sponsor licences, non-compliance can result in severe penalties, including:

• Suspension or revocation of sponsor licences, leading to an inability to sponsor new workers.
• Significant fines (up to an unlimited fine) and potential legal action.
• Reputational damage that may impact business operations.

In many cases, employers are unaware of minor breaches that can trigger enforcement action. Routine compliance checks, internal audits, and legal oversight are critical to ensuring continued adherence to Home Office requirements.

Impact on Migrant Employees

For migrants with permission to stay in the UK on various immigration routes, but with limitations on their ability to work (number of hours, as well as who they can work for, what type of work they can do), there can be extremely serious consequences if accused of working unlawfully:

• Cancellation of your visa.
• Risk of detention and enforced removal from the UK.
• Difficulty securing future visas due to negative Home Office records.

Many affected workers are unaware of their legal options when faced with visa cancellation. Seeking timely legal representation can make the difference between remaining in the UK lawfully or facing forced departure.

How We Can Help

Our legal team offers expert guidance for:

• Challenging unfair sponsor license cancellations or revocations: If your sponsor license has been unfairly revoked, we can help you appeal the decision.
• Helping businesses stay compliant: We assist companies in maintaining their sponsor licences and avoiding penalties.
• Emergency legal support for detained individuals: If you or someone you know is facing deportation, we can intervene urgently.
• Challenge civil penalty notices: Assisting businesses in disputing fines imposed by the Home Office.
• Secure damages for false imprisonment: Pursuing legal claims for those unlawfully detained.
• Damages for Article 8 violations: Seeking compensation for breaches of the right to private and family life under human rights law.

The Home Office is taking a tougher stance, and ensuring compliance is more important than never. If you or your business has been affected by recent enforcement actions, our team can provide expert assistance to help you understand your legal options.

For expert legal advice, contact us today to discuss your case.