Businessman Banned for 10 Years Over Employment of Illegal Workers
A businessman from Middlesbrough has been barred from running companies for a decade after employing illegal workers at two businesses in northeast England.
Edris Ali, 39, was found to have hired six individuals without the legal right to work in the UK. Two of these workers, Iranian men in their 30s, were discovered at Tasty Pizza in Hartlepool during an Immigration Enforcement visit in January 2020. A later visit in October 2022 to Bubbles Car Valeting in Guisborough uncovered four more workers—men in their 20s from Iran, Sudan, and Ivory Coast—working illegally.
Fines and Legal Action
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Ali had been a director of both companies, Hama Tasty Ltd and Bubbles Car Valeting, in 2019 but resigned from his roles in 2022. Following the investigations, the businesses faced significant financial penalties, with Hama Tasty Ltd fined £20,000 and Bubbles Car Valeting fined £60,000 for breaching immigration laws.
Last month, Ali was handed a 10-year disqualification order at the High Court in London, which came into effect on Tuesday. This prevents him from engaging in the promotion, formation, or management of any company without explicit court permission. Ali was also ordered to pay £9,884 in legal costs.
Regulatory Warnings
The Insolvency Agency’s Dave Magrath emphasized the seriousness of Ali’s actions, stating, “Employers hiring illegal workers defraud the public purse and put potentially vulnerable individuals at risk of exploitation. Mr. Ali failed in his statutory duties by employing these individuals.”
Theresa Gregory from the Home Office reinforced the importance of employer compliance, saying, “Employers have a responsibility to conduct thorough checks to ensure individuals have the right to work in the UK. Failure to do so can lead to significant consequences.”
Wider Implications
The case highlights the consequences of neglecting employment laws, including financial penalties, disqualifications, and potential reputational damage. Authorities continue to stress the importance of due diligence in hiring practices to prevent exploitation and uphold the integrity of the labor market.
