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A series of operations conducted jointly by the Labour Department, the Police and the Immigration Department in the past two weeks (April 14-24) to combat illegal employment, have resulted in the arrests of 27 suspected illegal workers and 18 employers.
A total of 46 suspected spots in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories were raided in the operations.
Of the 27 suspected illegal workers arrested, eight were found working as sales assistants in retail shops, four worked in renovation sites, four as waiters and kitchen helpers, three as food manufacturing workers, two as general workers in a cemetery and two as gardeners. The remaining four illegal workers worked in cargo handling basin, money exchange shop and laundry and cleaning company respectively.
Sixteen of the suspected illegal workers came from the Mainland and three of them were overstayers. Most of them came from Guangdong Province. Of the remaining 11 illegal workers, eight were foreign domestic helpers taking up non-domestic work at the time of employment and three could not produce proof of identity, including two non-ethnic Chinese.
During the operation, 18 employers or persons-in-charge of the workplaces where suspected illegal workers were found were taken to police stations or the Immigration Department for investigation.
A spokesman for the Labour Department said, "The Government is committed to protecting the employment opportunities of local workers by combating illegal employment. Since January this year, the Labour Department has conducted 62 joint operations with other enforcement departments to combat illegal employment. We will continue with vigorous action to deter these illegal activities."
"Employing illegal workers is a serious offence. Even a first-time offender faces three months' imprisonment. Employers should not breach the law," the spokesman said.
The Labour Department urges people to report illegal employment to its hotline 2815 2200. All information provided will be handled in strict confidence.
Ends/Thursday, April 24, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:36
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