The eight directors, who had employed 22 illegal immigrants in Scarborough, Calne, Worcester, Norwich and London, were disqualified for a combined 47 years.
The recent disqualifications bring to 16 the number of directors banned in the last nine months for immigration offences following collaboration between the Insolvency Service and Home Office Immigration Enforcement.
The 16 directors, aged 22- 59, had collectively employed 52 illegal workers who were caught during intelligence-led Home Office enforcement operations.
Business Minister Jo Swinson said:
These directors had an unfair advantage over their competitors by employing illegal workers for low wages. Illegal working is not victimless. It is often exploitative, undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the taxpayer.
The public has a right to expect that those who break the law will face the consequences and we have worked closely in this case with our colleagues at the Home Office to achieve this disqualification.
A Home Office spokesman said:
Businesses should be aware that they have a duty to check that their staff have permission to work in the UK.
We are happy to work with employers who play by the rules but those who do not should know that they will face the consequences.
The eight most recent disqualifications are:
Nurul Abser (37) and of Shah Alam (39), directors of Indian Rose Restaurant, Scarborough, who are disqualified for 8 years from 16 February 2015
Nurul Alam (44), the director of Eastern Paradise, Scarborough, who is disqualified for 7 years from 16 February 2015
Ismael Ali (29), the director of Spice of Bengal (Reya Ltd), Calne, Wiltshire, who is disqualified for 6 years from 18 February 2015
Mohammed Mulaim (33) and Abdul Bari (35), the directors of Massala Lounge. Worcester, who are disqualified for 6 years from 13 January 2015
Abdulall Jamil (24), the director of Surma Town Cash and Carry (Surma Town Ltd), Shadwell, East London, who is disqualified for 6 years from 19 January 2015
Quaisar Khan (59), the director of Acle Spice (Gold Deal Ltd), Acle, Norwich, who is disqualified for 6 years from 10 April 2015.
Notes to editors
Indian Rose Limited (Company No 07712636) was incorporated on 20 July 2011. Nurul Abser and Shah Alam were the directors of the company. The restaurant was based at 34-36 Castle Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1XE. Indian Rose Limited was place into liquidation on 12 December 2012.
Eastern Paradise Limited (Company No 07660541) was incorporated on 7 June 2011. Nurul Alam was the sole director of the company. The restaurant was at 5-6 St Helens Square, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1EU. Eastern Paradise Limited was placed into liquidation on 11 December 2012.
Reya Limited (Company No 07293984) was incorporated on 24 June 2010. Mr Ismail Ali was the sole director of the company. It operated a restaurant at 13 Wood Street, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0BZ trading as Spice of Bengal. Reya Ltd was placed into liquidation on 27 March 2013.
Massala Lounge Limited (Company No 06357856) was incorporated on 31 August 2007. Abdul Bari and Mohammed Mulaim were the directors of the company from its incorporation. Mohammed Mulaim resigned as director on 30 April 2012. The restaurant was at 35 Broad Street, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR1 3NH. Massala Lounge Ltd was placed into liquidation on 11 December 2012.
Surma Town Limited (Company No 07740361) was incorporated on 15 August 2011. Abdulall Jamil was the sole director of the company. It operated Surma Town Cash and Carry at 18 Bigland Street, London, E1 2ND. Surma Town Limited went into liquidation on 12 December 2013.
Gold Deal Limited (Company No 07892488) was incorporated on 28 December 2011. Quaisar Khan was the sole director of the company. It operated a restaurant at Old Bank House, The Street, Acle, Norfolk, NR13 3DY trading as Acle Spice. Gold Deal Ltd was placed into liquidation on 10 October 2013.
Company directors may be disqualified under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 if their conduct falls below accepted standards. A disqualification order can be made by a court in proceedings brought under the Act. The members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are also covered by the Act, in the same way as company directors.
A disqualification order has the effect that without specific permission of a court, a person with a disqualification cannot:
act as a director of a company
take part, directly or indirectly, in the promotion, formation or management of a company or limited liability partnership
act as an insolvency practitioner
be a receiver of a company’s property
In addition many other restrictions are placed on disqualified directors by other regulations.
Disqualification undertakings are the administrative equivalent of a disqualification order but do not involve court proceedings.
Further information on director disqualifications and restrictions is available.
The Insolvency Service administers the insolvency regime, investigating all compulsory liquidations and individual insolvencies (bankruptcies) through the Official Receiver to establish why they became insolvent. It may also use powers under the Companies Act 1985 to conduct confidential fact-finding investigations into the activities of live limited companies in the UK. In addition, the agency authorises and regulates the insolvency profession, deals with disqualification of directors in corporate failures, assesses and pays statutory entitlement to redundancy payments when an employer cannot or will not pay employees, provides banking and investment services for bankruptcy and liquidation estate funds and advises ministers and other government departments on insolvency law and practice.
Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct, is available.