 |
| A woman suspected of illegal work is led away from a cleaning company |
A week-long anti-illegal work operation that ended on Thursday, June 11, resulted in a total of 34 people being arrested.
Held for questioning by Immigration Department were 27 suspected illegal workers and seven employers.
The workers comprised eight men and 19 women, aged 20 to 59. They were arrested during raids on multiple locations carried out by a combined force from Immigration, Labour Department and the HK Police. The targeted locations included restaurants, factories and cleaning companies.
 |
| PINDUTIN ITO PARA SA DETALYE |
Two of the women held recognizance forms, which allow them to remain in Hong Kong while the authorities study their application against being sent back home, but do not entitle them to take up work, paid or unpaid.
Another woman was found in a possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card.
Five men and two women, aged 39 to 54, were suspected of having hired the illegal workers, and were likewise arrested. Immigration said in its statement that an investigation into their activities is ongoing, and did not rule out further arrests.
 |
| Basahin ang detalye! |
Working illegally or without permission from the Immigration Director is a serious offence for which a custodial sentence is prescribed. The maximum prison sentence is two years, along with a fine of up to HK$50,000.
If the offender committed another crime, like overstaying or violating the terms of a non-refoulement claim, the prison sentence goes up to three years.
If someone working illegally is found in possession of a forged HK ID card or an ID card belonging to someone else, the additional sentence could be up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of HK$100,000.
Employers of illegal workers are liable to a maximum fine of HK$500,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years
