The parliament passed at first reading amendments to the Penal Code concerning employers who hire 5 or more workers residing illegally in the country. The offenders will be punished by imprisonment and fines from BGN 2 000 to 20 000. The same goes for entrepreneurs knowingly hiring foreigners who are victims of human trafficking. Employment of a minor illegal foreigner will be punished by 5 year prison sentence and a fine from BGN 5000 to 50000. The mover of the bill, MP Anastas Anastasov explaines that the latter aims at harmonizing the Bulgarian legislation related to employment of foreign nationals from third countries with Directive 2009/52/EC of the European Parliament.