A kebab takeaway shop in Oldham was fined thousands of pounds after it was found to have employed illegal workers.

More than 100 businesses across the country have been "named and shamed" in the government's quarterly round-up of companies that have been hit with a penalty for using illegal workers.

The Home Office releases the data publicly, which is updated every three months, four times per year and the latest set relates to the period January 1 to March 31, 2023.

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Up to seven Greater Manchester businesses feature on the north west list where fines ranged from £15,000 to £45,000 across the region.

Simply Fresh, a kebab takeaway shop on Manchester Street in Oldham, received a penalty of £20,000 for employing illegal workers.

Records on Companies House further reveal Simply Fresh Restaurant LTD is in the process of being struck off as of August this year.

Meanwhile, the director of the company resigned in May.

According to the government website, there can be severe penalties for employing individuals who do not have "the right to work" in the UK.

Employers can be sent to jail for up to five years and be ordered to pay an unlimited fine if found guilty of employing someone who you knew or had "reasonable cause to believe" did not have the right to work in the country.

This primarily concerns employees' immigration status in instances such as if the worker did not have "leave" (permission) to enter or remain in the UK, if their leave had expired, if they were not allowed to do certain types of work or if their papers were incorrect or false.

Employers can also be penalised if they fail to do the correct checks when employing someone who does not have the right to work.

In these cases, employers may receive a "referral notice" and will have to pay a civil penalty of up to £20,000 for each illegal worker.

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