Legislative changes see 75% rise in fines for hiring illegal workers

British companies found to be employing illegal migrant workers were fined more than £24million in 2014 – a 75% increase on the previous year.

Figures obtained by employment outsourcing firm Parasol show that the gross value of civil penalties issued between January and December 2014 was £24,652,500.

That’s compared to the £14,107,750 recouped by the Home Office in 2013. The 2012 total was £10,775,500. The increase comes after the maximum civil penalty was doubled from £10,000 to £20,000 per illegal worker in May 2014.