Migrants' job curbs begin

The Government unveiled the details of how employers will be required to help curb illegal working, amid warnings from immigrants' rights campaigners that the new rules will bring more racial discrimination at the workplace.

The Home Office said that from 27 January, employers faced a fine of up to pounds 5,000 per illegal worker they took on without making reasonable checks, under the Asylum and Immigration Act.

Claude Moraes, director of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said: "It will result in clear race discrimination, even from some good employers, who don't want to take the risk of taking on potential illegal immigrants."

Ann Widdecombe, Home Office minister, said that employers who obeyed the law had nothing to fear. More than 1 million leaflets are being sent to employers.