The European Commission has presented a proposal for a Directive on sanctions against employers employing migrant workers illegally.

Vice-President Frattini, EU Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, said that “the chance of work draws many to the EU, but the dream can turn into a harsh reality of exploitation and slavery-like conditions - no protection on building sites or when working with harmful pesticides, or working 12 to 16 hours a day, sometimes for just €30. The pull factor for potential immigrants created by this illegal employment is also strongly linked to the sadly sometimes tragic journeys, often organised by traffickers, causing 3-4,000 deaths every year that illegal migrants take to come to the EU. This illegal employment also distorts competition and the functioning of the internal market. We must therefore be firm and committed and act as one to vigorously combat this phenomenon by creating similar penalties for employers and ensuring effective enforcement.”

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