 |
| Immigration officers escort DHs they arrested |
Immigration Department operations targeting foreign domestic helpers who breach their conditions of stay, netted 14 persons while performing dish washing, cleaning and other odd jobs in territory-wide raids conducted from November 4 to 11.
Also arrested for employing them were seven persons -- two
men and five women aged 30 to 74 -- who were managing the establishments where
the illegal workers were found.
Of those arested for illegal work, five persons were current
helpers, four were overstaying ex-helpers, two were holders of recognizance
forms which prohibit them from taking any employment in Hong Kong, one was an imported
worker, one was a visitor and one was an illegal immigrant.
 |
| DETAILS HERE |
Immigration said the operations, codenamed "Swordfish", involved
raids on 47 target locations including restaurants, retail shops, barbecue
site, activity venues, employment agencies, and commercial building units.
"A helper should only perform domestic duties for the
employer as listed in the "Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic
Duties" attached to the Contract. The helper should not take up any other
employment, including part-time domestic duties, with any other person. The
employer should not require or allow the helper to carry out any work for any
other person," an ImmD spokesman said.
The spokesman also said, "Any person who contravenes a
condition of stay in force in respect of him/her shall be guilty of an offence.
Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or
unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are
liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up
to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution
and penalties."
 |
| Basahin ang detalye! |
The spokesman warned that, "As stipulated in section
38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the
subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who
was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment,
whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining any business. Offenders are
liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years'
imprisonment.
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offense to
employ people who are not lawfully employable.
Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an
employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable (such as an illegal
immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation
order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land) has been increased
from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and
10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offenses.
“The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the
company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid
down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given
an immediate custodial sentence,” the spokesman said.
