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Version 1 | Version 2 |
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Lady Scotland risks migrant fine | Lady Scotland risks migrant fine |
(10 minutes later) | |
The attorney general is in "technical breach" of rules on employing migrant workers, the BBC understands. | The attorney general is in "technical breach" of rules on employing migrant workers, the BBC understands. |
Baroness Scotland is expected to be fined after employing a housekeeper from Tonga who did not have the right to work in the UK. | Baroness Scotland is expected to be fined after employing a housekeeper from Tonga who did not have the right to work in the UK. |
But she has not been asked to resign, according to government sources. | But she has not been asked to resign, according to government sources. |
The minister has said she employed Loloahi Tapui in good faith and thought she was working legally following the investigation by the UK Border Agency. | The minister has said she employed Loloahi Tapui in good faith and thought she was working legally following the investigation by the UK Border Agency. |
Visa expired | |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said Lady Scotland wishes to apologise for "any inadvertent mistake". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said Lady Scotland wishes to apologise for "any inadvertent mistake". |
She had contacted the authorities herself to ask them to conduct a "thorough" investigation in order to assure the country and herself she had taken "the necessary steps" when hiring Ms Tapui, he said. | She had contacted the authorities herself to ask them to conduct a "thorough" investigation in order to assure the country and herself she had taken "the necessary steps" when hiring Ms Tapui, he said. |
Laws state that employers must check to verify their staff's right to work in the UK. | Laws state that employers must check to verify their staff's right to work in the UK. |
Those who knowingly take on illegal workers face a two-year prison sentence and unlimited fine, while those who do it unknowingly face a £10,000 fine. | Those who knowingly take on illegal workers face a two-year prison sentence and unlimited fine, while those who do it unknowingly face a £10,000 fine. |
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Ms Tapui had overstayed on her visa for five years and the key question was whether Lady Scotland had carried out enough checks. | |
He told the BBC's Today programme: "We know she saw some documents from the person she employed - who has now been sacked - including National Insurance numbers. | |
"We don't know if she saw a passport or a visa, so the question is whether she did enough checks, but it would appear that she didn't knowingly employ somebody illegally." | |
He added that somebody who made partial checks but was still in breach could face a fine of up to £2,500. |