Number of arrests for illegal working rockets

The rate of arrests for illegal working in the construction industry more than doubled in 2023 amid a government crackdown on immigration, Construction News can reveal. Meanwhile, migrant charities warned that the rising number of immigration raids risks endangering potentially exploited workers on construction sites.

Adis Sehic, senior policy and research officer at employment rights charity Work Rights Centre, said that despite a “blip” during the Covid pandemic, strong immigration enforcement has been a consistent feature over the past eight or nine years. He warned that raids focused on immigration do not help exploited workers, who are often manipulated by sponsors.

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