The latest immigration statistics published by the Home Office reveal a huge rise in the numbers of employers losing their licence to sponsor migrant workers.
In the second quarter of 2024 some 1,023 skilled worker licences were suspended (524) or revoked (499). Last year’s figure for the same quarter was 117 suspended (89) or revoked (28).
Vanessa Ganguin, managing partner at Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law, said this was “an unprecedented leap in enforcement action”.
Immigration law specialists agree there has been an increase in Home Office enforcement activity in recent months, including both sponsorship compliance and also illegal working raids.
The release of the figures follows Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, announcing measures this week to “boost border security,” including “a range of sanctions, including financial penalty notices, business closure orders and potential prosecution … against those employing illegal workers”.
Ganguin said that these had largely been aimed at sectors such as beauticians and nail salons. She added: “We have also seen the care sector targeted following an extremely critical report on visa management in the sector by the Independent Chief Inspector for Borders and Immigration last year. But no sector can afford to be complacent.”
Ganguin noted that the ability to sponsor migrant staff could be business-critical for many employers, “so to avoid a suspension or revocation of their licence, employers must ensure they are on top of the Home Office’s latest guidance on licence compliance and management and that they keep up to date with relevant changes in the status of sponsored employees”.
Even genuine mistakes can cause sponsors big problems, said Ganguin. “If in doubt, employers should seek legal advice and also carry out a regular audit of their compliance systems.”
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