ABSTRACT
The Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 introduced employer sanctions as part of a package of measures to deter illegal employment in the United Kingdom. Similar measures have been introduced in a number of industrialised states. 1 As such, neither the UK legislation nor the political sentiments which have driven its implementation are innovative. 2 What is significant is the linking of illegal working with asylum in legislation which at the same time introduces harsh measures to deter asylum claimants who are perceived as “bogus”. The legislation was rushed through parliament after a short period of consultation following the publication of two Home Office papers. 3 The response to the papers was generally negative. Even the business community expressed grave reservations, 4 mostly in respect of the negative impact on race relations.
