Almost 2,000 Dutch firms were fined last year for employing foreign workers without proper papers, Trouw reports on Monday.

In total, some 7,000 companies operating in ‘at risk’ sectors such as agriculture and cleaning were targeted by ministry inspectors. The figures come from the social affairs ministry, news agency ANP quoted Trouw as saying.

Many of the companies were given higher fines because they were also failing to pay staff minimum wages, Trouw said. In total, the government raised nearly €30m in fines.

Almost one in five companies with illegal staff was a repeat offender.