A popular Birmingham takeaway chain, Big John's, has been found employing an illegal worker and paying him cash-in-hand below the national minimum wage. The outlet on Bristol Road in Selly Oak was raided by Home Office immigration enforcement officers last June.
Officers visited the venue on Thursday, June 19 at 1:30 PM and discovered four workers, one of whom was working illegally in the kitchen. The man, a Pakistani national, arrived in the UK on a student visa in February of the previous year, which only permitted him to work 20 hours per week during term time.
During the raid, the worker appeared nervous and stuttered in his responses. He handed over his mobile phone, which contained messages indicating he worked well over 20 hours a week, sometimes triple that amount. The messages, allegedly with a manager, showed he worked on a full-time basis, with hours ranging from 45 to 50 per week, and occasionally as high as 61, 59.5, and 52 hours.
The worker admitted working at the site for eight weeks, having approached Big John's for employment. He confirmed receiving £6 per hour in cash, below the minimum wage, and described it as exploitation. He also stated he did not pay income tax and lacked a National Insurance number. When asked why he accepted such low pay, he said he felt he had no choice as he needed financial support.
He disclosed that management was aware of his restricted right to work but allowed him to exceed permitted hours significantly. No right-to-work checks were conducted, which is a mandatory requirement for businesses.
The Big John's Selly Oak branch is associated with RBW Selly Oak Limited, which received a Civil Penalty Notice of £45,000 on November 12 last year. As of a Premises Licence Review document dated May 12 this year, the penalty remains unpaid.
The Home Office has applied to Birmingham City Council's licensing department for a review of the premises licence, citing failure to comply with licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder. The review request highlights that the illegal worker was permitted to work no more than 20 hours per week, but evidence showed he worked 45–50 hours. The Home Office stated that management facilitated unlawful working and failed to conduct mandatory checks.
The Home Office has requested revocation of the premises licence, arguing that merely remedying the situation would not deter the licence holder or others from employing illegal workers. The case will be heard by the licensing committee, with a statutory consultation period until July 2.
