You and the Law

The law EEA nationals Worker Registration Scheme Checking your workers The documents you need Checking the documents Copying the documents Your defence Preventing Discrimination	Make sure your staff are legal by using our step-by-step guide Check your staff now. Under Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 all employers in the United Kingdom should make basic document checks on every person they intend to employ. On 1 May 2004, the Government introduced changes to the types of documents that employers need to check to avoid employing illegal migrant workers. These changes aim to: Make it easier for employers to ensure that they only employ people who are permitted to work Make it more difficult for those without permission to work to use false or forged documents Strengthen the Government's ability to take action against those who deliberately employ illegal migrant workers All employers should check the original documents of any job applicant. What documents are necessary depends on individual circumstances. What you need to do to make sure they're legal could be as simple as checking and photocopying the pages of a passport.		PRINT Frequently asked questions about the law Make sure all your workers are legal Border and Immigration Agency website Information on Work Permits Staff should provide documents for employers to check. Use our step by step guide to find out what documents you need to see.