The UK government announced on Monday that from the beginning of next year, fines will be tripled on employers and landlords who allow illegal immigrants to work or rent their homes.

The Home Office said that from the beginning of 2024, employers who hire illegal workers for the first time would be fined up to £45,000. That means a fine of 45 thousand pounds will be imposed on each illegal employee. Earlier it was a fine of 30 thousand pounds, now it has been increased to 15 thousand pounds. At the same time, for repeated violations, a fine of up to 60 thousand pounds will be imposed. Earlier this fine used to be 40 thousand pounds.

At the same time, a fine of 1000 pounds has been announced for those landlords who keep illegal migrants in their house. Earlier this fine was 80 pounds per person. Similarly, £10,000 has been imposed on landlords who are repeat offenders. The fine was earlier £500.

UK Immigration Secretary Robert Jenrick said it was too dangerous for illegal migrants to work in the UK and it was necessary to stop unnecessary small boats. Unscrupulous landlords and employers who allow illegal workers enable the business model of human traffickers to continue, he said. There will be no excuse for not conducting a proper investigation and violators will now face stringent punishment.

According to official figures, almost 5 thousand fines have been issued to employers for employing illegal workers since the beginning of 2018, with a total value of £88.4 million. Meanwhile, more than 320 civil penalties worth a total of £215,500 have been imposed on landlords over the same period for giving illegal migrants no right to live in the country.