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A total of 55 illegal workers and 23 employers or persons-in-charge of workplaces were arrested in anti-illegal employment operations conducted jointly by the Labour Department, the Immigration Department and the Police in the past nine days.
Labour inspectors, Immigration and police officers raided 69 suspected spots, including interior decoration sites, retail shops, eating places as well as computers, electrical appliances and rubber products recycling workshops throughout the territory.
Among the arrested illegal workers, 28 of them were found working in 16 computers, electrical appliances and rubber products recycling workshops in the New Territories and two persons-in-charge were suspected to have employed them.
For the remaining 27 illegal workers, the majority was found working as waiters, dish cleaners or general cleaners in eating places and shop assistants in retail shops.
Of the arrested illegal workers, 37 were two-way permit holders, 13 were overstayers, four were foreign domestic helpers, and the remaining one has no proof of identity.
Senior Labour Officer of the Labour Department, Mr Ip Yee-cheung said: "Since January this year, the Labour Department has conducted 53 joint operations with other enforcement departments to combat illegal employment."
He stressed: "Employing illegal workers is a serious offence. Even a first-time offender will be sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Employers should not breach the law."
Mr Ip called on the public to report illegal employment to the Labour Department's hotline 2815 2200. All information provided will be handled in strict confidence.
Ends/Thursday, March 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:45
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