An Indian restaurant owner in Holbeach has admitted employing illegal workers, but said he only did so because he was desperate for staff after the COVID pandemic.
Mr Rahman, the restaurant’s Designated Premises Supervisor , told councillors: “I’m going to put my hands up, yes, we employed illegal workers.”He said that after the furlough scheme a number of his workers had not returned. He told the councillors his business had backed the Marcus Rashford’s campaign during the lockdown, providing food and care packages, carrying out raffles and donating to charity.
He said he had attempted to hire legal workers, including agency staff from Eastern Europe, however, he said his chefs required a “certain skillset” to cook the food right and that there had been language barriers. He also denied he or his staff had been abusive to a licensing officer, however, the officer said the situation had felt “hostile” when she was trying to erect licensing signage.Sergeant Lee Cotton told the committee: “I appreciate the difficulties with the furlough scheme, but responsible businesses do not employ illegal workers, responsible businesses take the necessary steps to employ legal workers.
Committee Chairman Mike Tyrell told the business owner: “I have three business, I had to go through the same things you did. I can’t afford to employ people… but I didn’t do what you did.”
Oversubscribed it maybe. It’s certainly not thriving. Trade is down for virtually all the stall holders. Including me. And the rent is the highest I’ve seen.