Another two Dundee restaurants are also facing fines running into tens of thousands of pounds after three men from Pakistan were arrested for immigration offences.

The Monifieth employees were arrested by UK Border Agency officers, who carried out intelligence-led operations.

The restaurant was then issued with an on-the-spot notice warning they might receive fines up to £10,000 per illegal employee, and the penalty, which was effectively half of that, was imposed in June.

It’s understood that following a period to allow for any appeal against the fines, the penalty was finally made public today.

No one from the restaurant was available for comment at time of going to press.

Meanwhile, on Friday, documents of three men working at another two Dundee premises were checked.

All three were arrested and steps are now being taken to remove them from the UK.

Both businesses were issued with on-the-spot notices, warning they may receive civil penalties for employing illegal workers if further investigations show proper checks were not undertaken to employ the workers.

Restaurateurs have also been warned they face up to two years in jail for knowingly and deliberately using illegal migrant workers.

Phil Taylor, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said, “The message is clear — the UK Border Agency will not tolerate illegal working, which threatens to damage our communities. These operations in Dundee are being repeated in cities, towns and villages throughout Scotland every week.

“We are determined to step in and identify businesses that are breaking immigration laws and they now face substantial fines for not making proper right to work checks on their employees.

“And if you have no right to be here and are working illegally you are likely to get caught and be removed from the UK.”

Meanwhile, inquiries into the actions of various restaurants and takeaways in Perth are continuing after 11 men were arrested in June for immigration offences.

Ten of those arrested were of Asian extraction, while one worker was Iranian.

The civil penalties system was introduced by the Home Office at the end of February in an attempt to snare the thousands of people suspected of working without the necessary documentation or skills.

The penalty scheme sits alongside a tough new criminal offence of knowingly employing an illegal migrant worker.

This will be used in the more serious cases where rogue employers knowingly and deliberately use illegal migrant workers, often for personal financial gain.

This will carry a maximum two-year custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine.

Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can call the UK Border Agency Employers Helpline on 0845 010 6677 or visit the Home Office website at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/ employers

Anyone who suspects illegal workers are being employed at a business anywhere in Scotland should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be assured.

An Australian-style points-based system for managing migration has recently been introduced, ensuring that only those with the skills the UK needs are allowed to work.

On-the-spot fines of up to £10,000 per illegal employee have also been introduced for employers who don’t make the correct right-to-work checks, and those businesses hit with fines will be named on the UK Border Agency’s website.