What are the penalties for illegal work?

**Illegal work in Canada is defined as any activity performed without proper authorization from government authorities. This can include workers who work without a visa or authorization, or those who work in conditions or positions that do not meet the terms of their work permit. For example, a foreigner who has a closed work permit only for a certain employer but works for another employer is also considered an illegal worker.

In Canada, illegal work has serious consequences for both employees and employers. This is due to the need to comply with immigration and labor laws. Violation of these regulations can lead to significant fines, as well as other legal consequences.

Penalties for employees

There are serious consequences for employees who work illegally:

• Loss of immigration status. This may result in the need to leave the country. This is especially true for those with temporary status or work permits.
• While specific fines for workers may vary by province and circumstance, in general they can be up to C$5,000 for immigration violations.
• If you are caught working illegally, you may be banned from entering Canada for a period of one to ten years.
• In some cases, working illegally can lead to criminal charges, fraud or other offenses.
• Working illegally can negatively affect your ability to apply for other immigration programs in the future.

Penalties for employers

Employers are also responsible for illegal employment. But their fines will be much higher:

• Employers can be fined up to C$100,000 for each employee who works illegally for violating immigration regulations. In some cases, these fines can reach millions of dollars in the case of large companies with multiple violations.
• In the case of gross violations of the law, employers may be held criminally liable, which may include imprisonment.
• Violation of immigration regulations is guaranteed to cause serious damage to the company's reputation, which will lead to the loss of clients and partners.
• Depending on the severity of the violation, employers may lose their business license or be banned from hiring foreign workers.
• If the case goes to court, the employer will incur significant legal fees and compensation for damages.

In addition to financial penalties for both employees and employers, illegal work is often accompanied by fear and stress. To avoid any negative consequences, comply with all migration and labor laws, and always check the legality of your employment relationship.