TORY MPs are launching a bid to close a loophole that allows sanctioned firms from Russia and Iran to sponsor worker visas.
They warn that the current situation could threaten our national security and allow immigration backed by our “enemies.”
MPs have tabled an amendment to to force the to remove visa sponsor licences from any individual or company under UK sanctions.
It comes after investigations earlier this year found companies under sanctions for links to the were approved to sponsor worker visas.
, Shadow Security Minister, warned that was leaving Britain’s backdoor “open to immigration sponsored by our enemies”.
She added: “Sanctions are supposed to punish those who threaten our national security and undermine our interests. It is therefore utterly absurd that a company can be sanctioned by Britain and still bring in workers to our country.
“The Conservatives would close this loophole. We will not allow sanctioned firms from Russia or any country to import people to our country and put our safety at risk.”
, Shadow Home Secretary, added: “It is ridiculous that we are handing out the right to bring foreign workers into Britain to companies that have been blacklisted by our Government.”
Russian airline Aeroflot, cryptocurrency platform Exmo Exchange and Iranian banks Melli and Persia International, were listed as holding licences to bring employees to the UK earlier this year.
The two Russian companies are no longer on the sponsor list.
Another probe also found UK subsidiaries of sanctioned Russian companies could still sponsor Russian nationals to enter the UK via the loophole.
Technically, while a company may be sanctioned for a particular activity, it does not mean that having a sponsor licence contravenes the sanction.
But the Government insisted the powers already exist to revoke a sponsor licence where an organisation is subject to sanctions.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The power to revoke sponsorship from sanctioned companies already exists.
“We will not hesitate to act to protect the integrity of the system. More broadly, we have taken robust action against Russia and Iran.
“The UK has now sanctioned over 3,500 individuals, businesses, and ships under the Russia sanctions regime, as well as sanctioning more than 550 individuals and entities under the Iran sanctions regimes, including the IRGC in its entirety.”
