UK poultry processor fined, illegal workers

A UK poultry processing plant may have to face a fine of over £250,000 after it was discovered that illegal immigrants were being employed.

The UK Border Agency raided Gafoor Poultry Products of Preston, based in Lancashire, where they discovered 27 illegal immigrants working at the chicken processing plant. The illegal workers came from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Belarus, Iraq and Jordan.

Reports state that 12 of the workers have been granted temporary release pending further inquiries, and the rest are being detained pending removal from the country.

Under immigration legislation, the company has 28 days to show that the necessary measures were taken to see if the workers were legal. If these measurements were not made, then the company could face a fine of up to £10,000 per worker.

“In cases where employers are found to be employing illegal workers, we often find they are also undercutting the minimum wage and bypassing health and safety laws,” said Chief immigration officer Gus MacDonald.