Firms who flout visa rules are set to face lengthy bans from hiring foreign workers under a Home Office crackdown on abuse and exploitation.
Ministers are set to double the length of time companies can be sanctioned for serious employment breaches, such as not paying the minimum wage or repeatedly defying visa rules.
Migration minister Seema Malhotra said the Government was committed to ensuring “those who abuse our immigration system face the strongest possible consequences”.
Currently, firms who flout work visa regulations can only be sanctioned for a maximum of 12 months. Under Government changes this will be doubled to at least two years for repeat offenders.
Measures introduced through the Government’s Employments Rights Bill – which is making its way through Parliament – will also take action against employers who are showing signs of rule breaking.
Action plans binding businesses who commit visa breaches into improvements will be strengthened, and the period they apply for will …