Illegal workers found after dawn raids at Celtic Manor

The Celtic Manor Resort near Newport, Wales, is the latest target of dawn raids by immigration officers. It was discovered that some 33 Polish nationals were employed illegally by the Gwent hotel when officers from the Immigration Service and Gwent police swooped.

The staff members, who were employed in housekeeping and food and beverage operations, have now returned to Poland.

"We recruited the staff using the services of a recruitment agency and it has since transpired that 33 of them were in Britain illegally," said a spokeswoman for the Celtic Manor.

The raid follows operations carried out by the Immigration Service at some large London hotels. Ten illegal immigrants were found working in Savoy Group hotels in London, three from the Berkeley hotel and seven from Claridge's.

A Home Office spokeswoman said that no further investigations were being carried out at the Celtic Manor and that management had given their full co-operation.

\* The shortfall of hospitality workers could receive a welcome boost in London and Sheffield, where 1,200 asylum-seekers are to be given four-year work permits, the Government has confirmed. About 1,000 Iraqi Kurds and up to 200 Afghans will be allowed in before the Sangatte refugee camp in France closes at the end of the year.

"Everybody who comes in legally will be a useful extra pair of hands," commented Martin Couchman, deputy chief executive of the British Hospitality Association.

However, Dave Turnbull, London regional organiser for hospitality at the T&G union, feared the refugees would be offered casual employment in hotels but would lack the same legal rights as permanent staff.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 12 18 December 2002