A CHEPSTOW business could be fined up to £20,000 after it was found to be employing an illegal worker.

Officers from the Home Office visited Hursts, the convenience store operating in the BP garage, on Newport Road, Chepstow on Tuesday 16th January at 5.30am.

Immigration enforcement officers found a 37-year-old Indian man working at the store who had overstayed his student visa.

Businesses face fines of up to £20,000 per illegal worker if they are can’t produce the appropriate documents confirming their employee’s right to work such as a passport or Home Office document.

The visit was one of six made as part of a larger, intelligence led, Home Office operation across Wales.

Richard Johnson, from Immigration Enforcement in Wales, said: “We are happy to work with businesses to explain the simple pre-employment checks needed to establish a person’s right to work in the UK, but to those who choose to ignore the rules the message is clear: we will find you and you will face a heavy financial penalty. 

“Illegal working is not victimless; it undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the public purse. 

“I urge anyone with specific and detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”

As a result of the operation, MRH (GB) Limited, which owns the Hursts convenience store brand, took action.

A spokesperson for MRH said: “We strive to have the highest operating standards across all MRH sites and set out very clear obligations for any contractors we work with.

“As a result of this incident, we have terminated our agreement with the site operator.”

The man has now made an immigration application which remains outstanding.