41 illegal workers and employers arrested in joint
operations
*************************************************** A total of 41 people, including 29 illegal workers and 12 employers or persons-in-charge of workplaces, were arrested in joint operations conducted by the Labour Department and the Police to raid suspected illegal employment spots in the past four days (August 23 to 26).
The joint operations raided 54 suspected spots, including retail shops, eating places, interior decoration sites, hair salons and waste paper processing workshops.
In the operations, eight illegal workers were found working in four interior decoration sites. A contractor who was suspected to have employed illegal workers was also arrested.
As for the remaining 21 illegal workers, 11 were found working as waiters, cooks, kitchen helpers or cleaners in eateries, six as sales assistant in retail shops, and four as hair washers or cashiers in hair salons.
Of the 29 arrested illegal workers, 27 were Mainland visitors. Among them, 12 came from Fujian, 10 from Guangdong, three from Sichuan, one from Hainan and one from Zhejiang. The remaining two illegal workers included one Vietnamese overstayer and one suspected Vietnamese illegal immigrant.
The Labour Inspection Division of the Labour Department and the Police mobilised 116 labour inspectors and 111 police officers respectively in the operations.
Senior Labour Officer of the Labour Department, Mr Ernest Ip Yee-cheung, said: "The Government does not tolerate illegal employment. The Labour Department will continue to take out vigorous enforcement to stamp out the illicit activities with a view to bringing the offending employers and illegal workers to justice.
"Up to August 26 this year, the Labour Department has already mounted 122 joint operations with other enforcement departments, exceeding the yearly total of 104 last year," Mr Ip said.
He urged the public to report illegal employment on the Department's complaint hotline on 2815 2200. All information provided will be handled in strict confidence.
operations
*************************************************** A total of 41 people, including 29 illegal workers and 12 employers or persons-in-charge of workplaces, were arrested in joint operations conducted by the Labour Department and the Police to raid suspected illegal employment spots in the past four days (August 23 to 26).
The joint operations raided 54 suspected spots, including retail shops, eating places, interior decoration sites, hair salons and waste paper processing workshops.
In the operations, eight illegal workers were found working in four interior decoration sites. A contractor who was suspected to have employed illegal workers was also arrested.
As for the remaining 21 illegal workers, 11 were found working as waiters, cooks, kitchen helpers or cleaners in eateries, six as sales assistant in retail shops, and four as hair washers or cashiers in hair salons.
Of the 29 arrested illegal workers, 27 were Mainland visitors. Among them, 12 came from Fujian, 10 from Guangdong, three from Sichuan, one from Hainan and one from Zhejiang. The remaining two illegal workers included one Vietnamese overstayer and one suspected Vietnamese illegal immigrant.
The Labour Inspection Division of the Labour Department and the Police mobilised 116 labour inspectors and 111 police officers respectively in the operations.
Senior Labour Officer of the Labour Department, Mr Ernest Ip Yee-cheung, said: "The Government does not tolerate illegal employment. The Labour Department will continue to take out vigorous enforcement to stamp out the illicit activities with a view to bringing the offending employers and illegal workers to justice.
"Up to August 26 this year, the Labour Department has already mounted 122 joint operations with other enforcement departments, exceeding the yearly total of 104 last year," Mr Ip said.
He urged the public to report illegal employment on the Department's complaint hotline on 2815 2200. All information provided will be handled in strict confidence.
Ends/Friday, August 26, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:17
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