A company contracted to provide Government services was among the dozens of London businesses fined for hiring illegal workers in the first months of the year.
Between January 1 and the end of March, 61 firms in the capital were issued penalties totalling a record of more than £3.2million after employing people with no right to work in the UK.
This compares to almost 40 London businesses who were slapped with fines of almost £2.8million in the last three months of 2024, Home Office data analysed by The Standard shows.
More than a third of the businesses fined (24) so far this year are restaurants, as the Government steps up raids in the hospitality sector.
Car washes, nail bars, hairdressers, corner shops and care providers were also among the sectors issued penalties, according to Home Office figures.
Sodexo, a French services company based in Camden that holds contracts with the Home Office, Ministry of Defence and HMRC, was told to pay £55,000 for hiring an illegal worker.
Its workers cover services such as cleaning, security, catering, waste management, general logistics and office management.
A Sodexo spokesperson told the Standard: “This fine relates to one individual we suspected as working illegally.
“Following an internal investigation, we terminated the individual’s employment and immediately reported the activity to the Home Office.
“We are committed to being a responsible employer and adhering to our legislative obligations.”
The Home Office said it does not comment on commercial matters.
Fines for firms caught employing people without the right to work have been increased from £15,000 per employee to up to £45,000 for first offences as part of a Government crackdown.
Repeat offenders face £60,000 penalties per illegal worker.
The Home Office has intensified its immigration efforts in recent months.
There has been a 50 per cent increase in illegal raids and arrests, with nail bars, barber shops, and delivery driver hotspots all being targeted.
In addition to fines, the Home Office has been applying for shops and businesses to have their licences reviewed and revoked, if they are found to have been hiring illegal workers.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have zero tolerance for illegal working and expect all employers to comply with the UK's immigration laws.
“Nationwide enforcement is up 50 per cent, with 280 arrests in the delivery sector during July's week of action. All government contracts are subject to regular and careful review.”
