Illegal nail bar jobs offered despite clampdown

Enforcement teams have been conducting raids in nail bars and convenience stores suspected of employing people illegally across south Wales as part of Operation Tornado - a national initiative to tackle illegal employment.

When the uniformed officers visit other premises, it is a similar scene to the one in Port Talbot - people quickly whip off their masks and pretend they are not working there, while businesses deny employing them.

The Home Office said it had ramped up these UK-wide raids this year, carrying out 3,188 visits with 2,299 arrests between 5 July and 31 October 2024 - there were 2,371 visits with 1,836 arrests for the same period in 2023.

"If an employer hires an illegal worker now they can get fined £45,000 for every illegal worker and if they offend again it could be £60,000," said Mr Johnson.

During the week of Operation Tornado penalties worth up to £4m were issued to more than 50 businesses.

However these hefty fines are not deterring everyone.

Many businesses are on high alert, with posts on Vietnamese Facebook groups issuing warnings about raids. Others offer services to keep a look out for officers.

"The Home Office and taxmen have been checking around Cardiff. Everyone, immediately avoid the area," one post read.

During our research we spoke to many working in the so-called shadow economy. One man in Birmingham worked in a restaurant from 09:00 GMT until 23:00, seven days a week and was put up in a house with other illegal workers.

Another man in his early twenties arrived in the UK by small boat and paid about £16,000 to smugglers to make the journey.

When we met the man - who we are calling Nam to protect his identity - he was carrying all of his possessions in a small black bag and had been sofa surfing around the UK for weeks.

"I am in a difficult situation. Jobless. No place to stay. I have to ask friends to let me stay with them," he said.

When he first arrived in the UK, Nam said he worked in cannabis farms, but moved to less dangerous work in nail bars after he was robbed.

He also said the UK smugglers told him "there were lots of opportunities and the living conditions were good".

"When I got here I found that wasn't the case."

He added it was becoming harder to find work.

"I found that things were easier when I just arrived to find jobs in nail bars or in restaurants... However, because there's so many people arriving the UK recently it's become much harder."

Nam now wants to return home to Vietnam.

"My plan is to get a job to start a new, more stable life that would allow me to work and pay back the debts I owe."

Dame Angela Eagle, the UK government's minister for border security and asylum, said: "People who come to the UK and work illegally often in extremely poor conditions are sold a false promise about their ability to live and work here.

"Putting an end to this is part of our Plan for Change to dismantle the criminal smuggling gangs making millions out of small boat crossings and restore order to the asylum system."