Penalties for illegal employment should not be so harsh

Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil told the Civil Liberties Committee of the European Parliament that some of the sanctions being proposed against employers hiring illegal immigrants were too harsh.

"Although this proposal (to impose sanctions) is needed in order to fight the black-market of employing illegal immigrants, penalties should not be as extreme as those being suggested in the directive," Dr Busuttil told fellow MEPs during a preliminary discussion.

"Some of the sanctions are too severe, like the possibility of closing down a company caught employing illegal immigrants. This is too harsh and such treatment should be reserved for criminals," he insisted. Dr Busuttil, who is also the European People's Party's shadow rapporteur on the matter, acknowledged that the illegal employment of migrants is serving as a "pull factor" for thousands of migrants to try to enter Europe.

However, he said, the EU must make sure this is prevented as much as possible through proper surveillance and sanctions.

The Commission's proposed directive, launched last year, is intended to serve as a deterrent to the employment of illegal immigrants across the EU. Such migrants are usually exploited through low wages and bad working conditions.

All EU member states, except Cyprus, have some kind of sanctions against employing illegal workers but only 14 have provisions for prison sentences.

The implementation of penalties varies considerably among member states with some more lax than others, as a result distorting competition among companies.

According to the draft directive, the new rules will allow immigrants to file complaints against employers and demand unpaid wages.

There are between four and eight million illegal immigrants in the EU.

It is estimated that 500,000 illegal immigrants enter the EU every year.

The Commission's proposal must be supported by the majority of member states (qualified majority) and by the European Parliament before coming into force.

The European Parliament should be in a position to vote on the directive next autumn.