A West London supermarket has been permitted to continue trading by local authorities, despite being found to have employed an illegal worker without providing any payment for her labour. The decision was made by Ealing Council's licensing subcommittee, which reviewed the case following a raid by immigration and council officers.
Details of the Immigration Raid and Investigation
Sira Superstore, situated on King Street in Southall, was subjected to a joint operation involving immigration enforcement and council officials on May 9, 2025. During this visit, three individuals were arrested on suspicion of illegal working. Subsequent investigations confirmed that all three persons lacked the legal right to work within the United Kingdom.
One individual had overstayed their visa, while the other two were former students who had also remained in the country beyond the validity of their visas. Notably, one of these workers informed immigration officers that she had been employed at the supermarket for several months, receiving a wage of just £5 per hour, which is significantly below the national minimum wage.
Contradictory Claims Regarding Payment
In a surprising twist, the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), Mr Minda Sira, presented a different account during the hearing. He asserted that the worker had not been paid at all, claiming she was engaged in a trial period spanning two and a half months, during which she completed one shift per week. This arrangement resulted in her working a total of ten shifts without any financial compensation.
The Home Office imposed a substantial fine of £40,000 on Sira Superstore for employing an illegal worker. However, the supermarket appealed this penalty just one day prior to the licensing hearing, and the fine remains unpaid at this time.
History of Previous Offences and Committee Decision
This is not the first instance where Sira Superstore has been implicated in employing illegal workers. Back in March 2017, police and immigration officers discovered two employees working at the premises without the necessary legal authorisation. Mr Sira served as the DPS during both the 2017 and 2025 incidents and had previously been cautioned about the employment of illegal workers.
During the recent proceedings, Mr Sira and his representative argued that the 2017 case should not be considered relevant. They contended that the business entity had changed, as the premises licence was transferred from Mr Sira as an individual to General Superstore Ltd in 2020. This company had his son as one of its directors until July 2025.
The DPS holds responsibility for the daily operations of the business and must ensure compliance with all licensing conditions. Despite Mr Sira remaining in the DPS role throughout this transition, councillors on the subcommittee agreed to disregard the earlier offence.
Council's Rationale for the Ruling
Councillor Rima Baaklini, speaking on behalf of the subcommittee, explained their decision. She stated that the members determined the 2017 incident was not pertinent to the current matter, viewing them as entirely separate due to the change in business entities. The only connection identified was that the same individual held the position of Designated Premises Supervisor on both occasions.
This ruling allows Sira Superstore to maintain its operations while the appeal against the Home Office fine is pending. The case highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing immigration and employment laws within the retail sector, particularly in areas with diverse communities like Southall in West London.
