You are describing the current system. Employers can receive business-ending fines (at least in theory) for hiring illegal labour. I’ve never worked a job in the UK that didn’t require me to prove my right to work here, eg by showing them my passport. Digitising the IDs will make no difference.

And frankly, if you believe this is actually about immigration then I’m embarrassed for you. Everyone can see that they’re just using the current crisis an excuse to ram through the unpopular thing that they've wanted for decades.

It won’t stop the boats.

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incone123 9 hours ago | parent [-]

I have never seen a report of a business ending because of a fine. I have seen reports of hospitality business having to close because they lost their alcohol licence, where the licencee employing illegal immigrants was deemed not to be a fit and proper person.

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arrowsmith 9 hours ago | parent [-]

On paper, the punishment for hiring illegal labour is £45k per worker for the first offence and up to £60k for repeat offences[0]. That's enough to ruin a small business.

Whether or not these laws are actually enforced is another matter. [Insert obligatory reference to Turkish barbershops]. But I've been asked to show ID at every job I've ever had, so companies obviously care about it even if the risk is low.

[0] source: https://www.irwinmitchell.com/news-and-insights/expert-comme...

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AlecSchueler 6 hours ago | parent [-]

> Insert obligatory reference to Turkish barbershops

Is the implied assertion that the majority of Turkish traders are operating illegally?

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arrowsmith 6 hours ago | parent [-]

It's a popular stereotype in the UK (although it only seems to have arisen in the last year or so) that "Turkish barbershops" are a front for money laundering.

They're certainly suspicious: all across the country, high street retailers are going bust, and yet somehow all these barbershops, nail salons, takeaway joints etc are staying in business, able to afford prime commercial real estate even though you never see anyone in there getting their hair cut or their nails done.

I don't know why the Turks in particular are being singled out, but that's the meme. The "American Candy Stores" in London are another famous example.

	▲	AlecSchueler 6 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> barbershops, nail salons, takeaway joints There's an old saying where I'm from that the barbershop is the safest line of work because everyone needs their hair cut. Where I am, admittedly in the Netherlands but I grew up in the UK and haven't noticed a huge difference, nail salons are always quite full when I pass, and I see food delivery drivers almost every time I look out the window. Similarly the barbers always seem to have clients. Could be the time of day you look? Just going to throw it out there that it's a bit disconcerting to see these kind of criminal stereotypes associated with a certain people on HN.