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To combat foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) taking up illegal employment, the Immigration Department today (August 22) conducted a territory-wide anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Swordfish" and arrested nine FDHs and five employers.
The operation began at 7.30am and ended at 4.30pm today. Immigration officers raided 23 target locations including a private clinic, a grocery market, a pharmacy, restaurants and clothing stores and conducted 122 identity checks. As a result, nine FDHs and five employers were arrested in Yuen Long, Tsuen Wan, Causeway Bay, Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City. The nine arrested FDHs comprised one man and eight women aged between 28 and 55. They were suspected to have breached their conditions of stay in Hong Kong. The five arrested employers comprised one man and four women aged 39 to 78. They were suspected to have aided and abetted the arrested FDHs to breach their conditions of stay in Hong Kong.
An Immigration Department spokesman stressed that an FDH should only take up employment as such and reside at the contractual address as stipulated in their contract, as approved by the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to criminal prosecution and upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two years. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution.
The spokesman also appealed to employers not to employ illegal workers, warning that it is an offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's identity card or, if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card, his or her valid travel document. The maximum penalty for failing to do so is a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for one year.
Ends/Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:26
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