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A total of 29 suspected illegal workers and 14 employers/people-in-charge of workplaces have been arrested in joint operations mounted by the Labour Department and the Police this month to combat illegal employment.
Among the arrested, nine suspected illegal workers and three employers/people-in-charge of workplaces were arrested in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tai Po today (February 28).
Senior Labour Officer of the Labour Department Mr Ip Yee-cheung said, "The Labour Department will spare no efforts in stamping out illegal employment to safeguard local workers' job opportunities.
"The Labour Department and the Police have mounted 16 joint operations in February and inspected 93 places of employment, including interior renovation sites, retail shops, eating places, a hair salon and a video tapes shop."
Among the 29 suspected illegal workers arrested, 28 were two-way permit holders mainly from Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian. The remaining one could not produce any proof of identity.
The illegal workers were found working as retail shop assistants, waiters, dish cleaners, cooks, kitchen helpers and general workers in eating places, interior decoration workers, barbers and waste material collecting/processing workers.
Mr Ip stressed that the Labour Department would continue its vigorous enforcement against illegal employment. He noted that employing illegal workers was a serious offence and even a first-time offender would be sentenced to three month in prison.
Mr Ip also urged the public to report illegal employment to the Labour Department's hotline 2815 2200. All information provided will be handled in strict confidence.
Ends/Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:26
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