Fines for employers caught employing unregistered workers will rise from €58 to €500, according to white paper proposals to amend the Employment and Training Corporation Act.

Addressing a news conference this morning, ETC head Clyde Caruana said the proposal was also for the court fine to increase from €1,000 to €2,000 per employee.

He pointed out that the majority of unregistered workers were foreign.

Mr Caruana said some 25 inspections were conducted daily and half of the employees were found to be unregistered.

Inspections will also start being made at night and on weekends, with the number of inspectors doubling from eight to 16.

People registered as unemployed would be able to work up to 240 hours a year without being struck off the register, he said.

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