Home secretary David Blunkett has announced changes to the law will make it easier to prosecute companies who employ illegal workers.

The change will also make it easier for legitimate business to keep within the law.

New guidance will be issued to employers to make clear what documents they are required to see as proof of entitlement to work. A number of documents, which have been exploited by forgers, will no longer provide a defence against prosecution for illegal employment.

The new regulations will come into force from May 1 and are part of a comprehensive, cross-government approach to tackle illegal working.

Blunkett said: “Illegal working is a modern day slave trade run by organised criminals. It exploits vulnerable people, undermines fair business competition and the minimum wage.

“This cannot be tackled by the government alone, and we have been working closely with employers and unions to draw up these measures.”