The law through which the fines for hiring foreigners without work permits are toughened and establishes tools for the Labor Inspection Directorate to collect the health, safety and hygiene fund, was sanctioned this Wednesday by the president of the Republic Laurentino Cortizo.

The president pointed out that through this law the coercive jurisdiction of the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel) is created and will grant it the power to make effective the collection of sanctions arising from the violation of labor laws, this through an executing judge, guaranteeing the human rights of workers.

"This law seeks to sanction companies that continue to hire foreign labor without the necessary work permits, effectively unprotecting this population, by subjecting them to working conditions that imply uncertainty, exploitation and ignorance of their rights, and that, in addition , generate distortions in the labor market, affecting the perception and behavior of the population," detailed the presidency of the Republic.

It adds that it also establishes that companies that for the third time incur in hiring foreign labor without the permits required by the Mitradel will pay a fine of $15,000, as well as the obligation to pay the Occupational Safety Fund by companies whose violation may lead to the closure of operations.

"With this initiative, Mitradel maintains the firm commitment to verify compliance with current legal provisions on health and occupational safety through Inspectors and Safety Officials specialized in public and private construction projects," said Mitradel in the past. August when the National Assembly approved this initiative in the third debate.