ETC cracking down on illegal employment

Employers have since October been fined a total of €20,000 for illigally employing people, including migrants and minors, the ETC said.

The corporation said that out of 224 cases heard by the courts in the past eight months, 127 of the accused chose to settle their dues by paying the administrative fine contemplated by law. This was not possible in another 68 cases, where the infringements were of a too serious nature to be settled through an administrative fine. These cases involved foreigners working without work permits, persons found working while registering for work, persons working below the age of 16 and others not declaring their employment. Employers found guilty of employing foreigners without a work permit were fined €1,165 each. In total, €9,940 was paid in administrative fines and €10,822 in court penalties.

The ETC explained that employers are obliged to submit the engagement forms of any new persons they employ “not later than the first day of work”.

The ETC Law Compliance Unit has a 24 hour freephone service on 8007 6501 where reports may be made anonymously in connection with irregular employment. Reports can also be submitted through the ETC website www.etc.gov.mt.