2:25pm Sunday 29th August 2010
By James Nadal
AN award winning curry house in Cookham faces a £20,000 fine after two illegal workers were found.
The UK Border Agency discovered two Bangladeshis aged 20 and 36 who had overstayed their visas at Maliks Tandoori on High Street, Cookham.
Checks were carried out on Monday following intelligence, the agency said.
Both men were served with immigration papers and granted bail while the agency gets travel documents so they can be deported.
Unless the company, which has restaurants in Marlow and Gerrards Cross, can prove it carried out the correct right to work checks on their staff, it faces a penalty of up to £20,000.
There is no suggestion Malik's was aware the pair had overstayed.
The enforcement operation was part of the agency’s planned nationwide action to tackle illegal working, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised immigration crime.
Maria Leon, in charge of operations for the UK Border Agency in Berkshire, said: “It is the legal responsibility of all businesses to check that their employees have the right to work in the UK.
“If employers have concerns about whether staff - or their documents - are genuine they can contact the UK Border Agency for advice.
“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 should be warned that they will be found and they will be punished.”
In 2008 Maliks won the Best Restaurant in the South East at the British Curry Awards - for the third time.
Maliks was not available for comment when contacted by the Free Press this week.
Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit the website link below or call the UK Border Agency’s Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.
Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit the Home Office website below.
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