A DUNFERMLINE firm could be hit with a £60,000 penalty after illegal workers were found on its premises.

Immigration enforcement officers swooped on the Fat Panda Takeaway in Chalmers Street about 5.30pm on Saturday.

The business was served with a referral notice in relation to three illegal Chinese workers who were arrested.

A financial penalty of up to £20,000 per worker found will be imposed unless the employer can demonstrate that appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

If proof is not provided, the firm faces a potential fine of up to £60,000.

Assistant director Ian Tyldesley, head of the Immigration Compliance and Enforcement team in Scotland, said: “We are happy to work with businesses to explain the simple pre-employment checks needed to establish a person’s right to work in the UK, but to those who choose to ignore the rules the message is clear – we will find you and you will face a heavy financial penalty.

“Illegal working is not victimless, it undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the public purse.

“I urge anyone with specific and detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”

Officers found three Chinese men, aged 39, 42 and 47, working illegally.

Immigration checks found the older two had entered the country illegally, while the 39-year-old had overstayed a visa.

All three were detained while steps are taken to remove them from the UK.

Mr Tyldesley said anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can report it online at gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.