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Business Immigration Solicitors

Five-year disqualification for restaurant director who employed illegal workers (21 March 2017)

Date: 21/03/2017
Duncan Lewis, Business Immigration Solicitors, Five-year disqualification for restaurant director who employed illegal workers

An investigation by the Insolvency Service has led to the disqualification of a restaurant director, after he failed to ensure that the business completed relevant immigration checks on its employees, resulting in the employment of two illegal workers.

Norman Musa, 42, from Birmingham – a director of NMR Trading Ltd – has been disqualified for five years and will not be able to run a business until December 2021.

NMR Trading Limited was incorporated on 8 April 2013 and traded as Ning Restaurant from 92/94 Oldham Street in Manchester.

Mr Musa was a director from 9 April 2013 until the company went into liquidation on 15 December 2014.The estimated deficiency at the date of Liquidation was £66,097.

The immigration breach was discovered following a visit to the restaurant by Home Office Immigration Officers on 2 October 2014. A penalty notice of £20,000 was imposed on the company, but the penalty remained unpaid at Liquidation.

Head of Insolvent Investigations North at the Insolvency Service, Robert Clarke, said:

“The Insolvency Service rigorously pursues directors who fail to pay fines imposed by the government for breaking employment and immigration laws. We have worked closely in this case with our colleagues at the Home Office to achieve this disqualification.

“The director sought an unfair advantage over his competitors by employing an individual who did not have the right to work in the UK in breach of his duties as a director.

The public has a right to expect that those who break the law will face the consequences – running a limited company means you have statutory obligations as well as protections.

“If you fail to comply with your obligations, then the Insolvency Service will investigate you.”


A Home Office spokesperson added:

“Illegal working is not victimless – it undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the taxpayer.

“Businesses should be aware that they have a duty to check that their staff have permission to work in the UK.

“We are happy to work with employers who play by the rules – but those who do not should know that they will not go under our radar.”


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