Reform UK has pledged to imprison the bosses of companies employing illegal migrants and said it would fine larger firms 10 per cent of their global revenues.<\/p>\n
The party said its aim was to stop delivery and gig economy companies profiting from illegal workers “without consequences”.<\/p>\n
Home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf said “young British people are being shut out of entry level jobs and our whole economy is being undermined”.<\/p>\n
The Home Office said it was already increasing penalties for companies hiring illegal workers. A source within the department called some of Reform’s proposals “empty posturing”.<\/p>\n
Reform said that if it won the next general election, it would pass a law making chief executives and directors of large companies profiting from illegal workers personally and criminally liable.<\/p>\n
That would be regardless of their knowledge of workers’ legal status. <\/p>\n
The party said this would be similar to the personal liability of senior managers for the financial misconduct of their firms under Financial Conduct Authority rules.<\/p>\n
Reform would also introduce a phone line for the public to report suspected illegal working or organised criminal activity, which police and other authorities, such as trading standards teams, would be required to follow up.<\/p>\n
Reports resulting in successful prosecutions would be rewarded with a share of any fines generated.<\/p>\n
Yusuf said the party “would introduce the toughest penalties anywhere in the world for illegal working”.<\/p>\n