Fines for businesses and landlords who knowingly support illegal migrants are set to triple under new rules announced by the government. The move is aimed at deterring dangerous Channel crossings by small boats.
Under the new regulations, businesses found to have repeatedly employed illegal migrants could face fines of up to £60,000 per breach. The civil penalty for employing illegal migrants will rise from £15,000 to £45,000 for the first offense, and fines for repeat offenders will triple from £20,000 to £60,000.
Landlords will also face increased fines, with penalties rising from £80 per lodger and £1,000 per occupier for a first breach to up to £5,000 per lodger and £10,000 per occupier. Further breaches could result in penalties of up to £10,000 per lodger and £20,000 per occupier.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick stated that “unscrupulous landlords and employers who allow illegal working and renting enable the business model of the evil people smugglers to continue.” He emphasized that there is no excuse for not conducting appropriate checks, and those in breach will now face significantly tougher penalties.
The exact number of people residing in the UK illegally is unknown. However, a 2020 study conducted by the Greater London Authority estimated that between 594,000 and 745,000 undocumented individuals were living in the country, accounting for about 1% of the total population.
Since 2018, over 4,000 civil penalties have been issued to employers for employing undocumented workers, raising more than £74 million. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made tackling the number of migrants making dangerous Channel crossings one of his government’s top priorities.
However, critics argue that strengthening penalties must be accompanied by stronger enforcement action. Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper pointed out that penalties issued to firms employing workers illegally have actually fallen by two-thirds since 2016, and arrests have also decreased. The Liberal Democrats criticized the move as “another pointless announcement on the asylum system which will make no meaningful difference.”
Last year, more than 45,000 people entered the UK via Channel crossings, a significant increase from about 300 in 2018. In response, a controversial new bill was approved by Parliament, which will prevent people removed from the UK from returning or seeking British citizenship in the future. The bill also grants the home secretary the duty to detain and remove those arriving in the UK illegally to Rwanda or a ”safe” third country.
The United Nations strongly criticized the bill, stating that it “will have profound consequences for people in need of international protection” and that it breaches international law. However, the Home Office defended the bill, stating that the government takes its international obligations seriously and that nothing in the bill requires the government to act in a way that is incompatible with international law.
In 2022, the UK had the fifth highest number of asylum applications in Europe, with Germany, France, Spain, and Austria receiving more applications. Germany alone accounted for a quarter of all first-time asylum applications within the EU, with 217,735 applications.
What are the new fines for businesses that repeatedly employ illegal migrants under the new regulations announced by the government?
00 people have made dangerous crossings across the English Channel in small boats in an attempt to reach the UK. This has led to concerns about the role of businesses and landlords in supporting illegal migrants, and the government has responded by announcing new rules that will triple fines for those who knowingly support illegal migrants.
Under the new regulations, businesses found to have repeatedly employed illegal migrants could face fines of up to £60,000 per breach. The civil penalty for employing illegal migrants will rise from £15,000 to £45,000 for the first offense, and fines for repeat offenders will triple from £20,000 to £60,000.
Landlords will also face increased fines, with penalties rising from £80 per lodger and £1,000 per occupier for a first breach to up to £5,000 per lodger and £10,000 per occupier. Further breaches could result in penalties of up to £10,000 per lodger and £20,000 per occupier.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has emphasized that allowing illegal working and renting enables the business model of people smugglers to continue. He stated that there is no excuse for not conducting appropriate checks, and those in breach will now face significantly tougher penalties.
The exact number of people residing in the UK illegally is unknown, but estimates suggest that between 594,000 and 745,000 undocumented individuals are living in the country, accounting for about 1% of the total population.
Since 2018, over 4,000 people have made dangerous crossings across the English Channel in small boats in an attempt to reach the UK.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2023/08/03/3756265-76415228-2560-1440.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
This seems like a necessary step to discourage illegal activities and hold those involved accountable.
I hope this measure effectively deters businesses and landlords from supporting illegal migrants and helps ensure a safer and more transparent system in the UK.