The Home Office has begun talks with the industry on the implementation of tough new legislation designed to crackdown on bogus employees.

The new rules will see rogue employers face a prison sentence and/or an unlimited fine if found knowingly employing illegal workers. Civil penalties will also be levied on companies which have been negligent in carrying out checks on workers.

The level at which these fines will be set and how they will be imposed is now the subject of a consultation.

The new measures, which will take effect early next year, are part of the Home Office's Illegal Working Action Plan, co-ordinated through the new Border and Immigration Agency (BIA).

The Action Plan includes a new pilot project to help British businesses check migrants identity and right to work. This joint venture is the first between the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) and the BIA, and is a prelude to biometric checking services which will come on stream with compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals.

Marcia Roberts (pictured), chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, says: "The move towards providing recruitment agencies and employers with specific information on their immigration enquiries is a great leap forward. To date recruiters have been intensive users of the Home Office's Employers' Helpline and the new Employers' Checking Service will undoubtedly help recruiters make the right decision when it comes to ensuring that candidates have the right to work in the UK.”