Saturday, 19th July 2008
Illegal immigration
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.
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Comments
Well done Dr, Busuttil
Your only problem is that, behind you there are many peoples still do not want to understand that, the way they do politics in EU differs from the way we do politics in Mosta.
Keep it up. You dont have to bother with ignorance-driven comments.
It is a pathetic statement from Dr Busuttil saying that employing illegal immigrants should not require a very harsh sentence.
As someone stated the only two persons who definetely take action when problems arise are DR Gatt and John Dalli.
Months ago I was in a debate on Bondi Plus about illegal immigration. I told Dr Busuttil that nobody will help Malta on this issue, because nobody is so stupid to take others problem.
Yet he stated that Frontex will help us to deal with the problem and that with his position it would be very important for Malta. The truth is that with frontex more and more illegal immigrants are coming, and we have also the luxury of a minister saying that he can take 2000 immigrants this year, and if needed even more.
Surely with such persons in power the invasion will continue.
Use your vote wisely. If you are not ready to change party at least put people in power who have national interest as a priority and are not simply european puppets.
Unfortunately Simon ,we left behind are being daily disturbed both from a psychological and physical perspective.
Wrong move Simon!
Very good idea.
Mr Prime Minister, get Dr Gatt to handle the illegal immigrants situation with the specific remit of ridding Malta of every single illegal immigrant.
I am sure that he will command the support of the vast maority of Maltese citizens.
Dr. Busuttil should have proposed that ILLEGAL immigrants SHOULD NOT be allowed to work at all.
Does Dr. Busuttil realize that now employers may be tempted to:
i. employ ILLEGAL immigrants rather than Maltese workers,
ii. reduce the Maltese workers’ wage and illegally employ ILLEGAL immigrants?
Is Dr. Busuttil defending our country as we elected him to do or betraying it ?
Is Dr. Busuttil aware that his proposal is compromising the rule of law?
Has Dr. Busuttil joined the JRS?
Entering a country ILLEGALLY with no identification documents, together with those who ILLEGALLY employ them is a criminal offence and should be treated harshly Dr. Busuttil.
Can Frontex be described as ‘proper surveillance’? The results show otherwise.
You cheated me (and many others) in fully trusting you and voting for you Dr. Busuttil.
You will DEFINITELY NOT cheat me again.
Hopefully many others will follow my example.
We need steadfast men like the Hon. Dr Austin Gatt and the Hon. Mr John Dalli to successfully deal with ILLEGAL immigration
With such representation in the EU, how is Malta supposed to be taken seriously? What a shame!
You really need to get a better grip on the situation with regards to the illegal immigration problem. Try to remember that the EU parliament elections are just next year. You've done some fine work, don't let us down by going soft on this most pressing of issues.
I cannot understand manoeuvres that seem to increasingly protect lawbreakers at the expense of law-abiding victims. How should law and order prevail in such a scenario?
No wonder EU is not helping us on this issue
Those who employ illegal immigrants are criminals and employ illegal immigrants for cheap labour. It is inhuman on both immigrants who are being abused and on Maltese who lose their job for cheap labour.
I hope the PN does not agree with such statement.
Remember the Hunters ?
I would suggest a minimum of 100,000 thousand euros and six months imprisonment for the employer(s) for every illegal employee that they employ.
That would be a real deterrent Dr Busuttil.