London, UK: The British government has announced that companies and landlords who knowingly support illegal migrants will be fined up to three times more than before under new rules. Companies that repeatedly employ illegal migrants could face fines of up to $76,200.
The UK Home Office stressed that illegal work and renting promote illegal migration. The British Immigration Minister, Mr. Robert Jenrick, stated that the move would help deter perilous channel crossings by small boats.
The punishments will come into force at the beginning of 2024. Under the new punishments, the civil penalty for employing illegal migrants will rise from $19,050 to $57,150 for the first offence. If businesses repeat the offence, the fines will triple from $25,400 to $76,200.
Meanwhile, landlords will have their fines hiked from $101 per lodger and $1,270 per occupier for a first breach to up to $6,350 per lodger and $12,700 per occupier. Further breaches could result in penalties of $12,700 per lodger and $25,400 per occupier, up from $635 and $3,810, respectively.
Unscrupulous landlords and employers who allow illegal working and renting enable the business model of the evil people smugglers to continue. There is no excuse for not conducting the appropriate checks, and those in breach will now face significantly tougher penalties
Mr. Jenrick said.
The UK had the fifth highest number of asylum applications in Europe, behind Germany, France, Spain and Austria in 2022, as per the statement.
According to the reports, it is unknown how many illegal migrants reside in the UK. A 2020 study conducted by the Greater London Authority estimated that between 594,000 and 745,000 undocumented people were living in the country, comprising about 1 percent of the total population.