Checks for staff employed before 27 January 1997

This page explains the law on preventing illegal working in relation to staff employed before 27 January 1997, including details of employers' responsibilities to check the entitlement to work in the United Kingdom of their prospective employees.

Employers' legal responsibilities in respect of preventing illegal migrant working relate only to staff employed on or after 27 January 1997. Employers who did not check the entitlement to work in the United Kingdom of staff employed before this date are not liable to sanctions if such individuals are found to be illegal migrant workers.