A TAKEAWAY in Taunton has been fined by the government for employing illegal workers.

Latest Home Office data has revealed Pizza King & Grill House on East Reach has been fined £10,000.

The data is released to the public every three months - the recent data relates to the period of January 1 to March 31 2023.

According to the UK Government website, illegal workers are employees that do not have the right to work in the UK.

Penalties are issued to businesses who employ any individual who is:

  • subject to immigration control; and
  • aged over 16; and
  • not allowed to carry out the work in question because either they have not been granted leave to enter or remain in the UK or because their leave to enter or remain in the UK: (i) is invalid; (ii) has ceased to have effect (meaning it no longer applies) whether by reason of curtailment, revocation, cancellation, passage of time or otherwise; or (iii) is subject to a condition preventing them from accepting the employment.

The guidelines read: "You can be sent to jail for 5 years and pay an unlimited fine if you’re found guilty of employing someone who you knew or had ‘reasonable cause to believe’ did not have the right to work in the UK."