Three Indonesian nationals, including two overstayers and one asylum seeker, have been handed prison sentences by the Shatin court in Hong Kong. The women, aged between 34 and 41, pleaded guilty to working illegally as dishwashers in a restaurant located in Chai Wan. The arrests were made during an anti-illegal worker operation conducted by Immigration investigators on February 18.
During the identity check, one of the women presented a recognizance form that prohibited her from engaging in any employment. The other two women were found to have overstayed their visas. Consequently, all three individuals were charged with either taking employment while under a removal order or for breaching their limit of stay.
Following their guilty pleas, each woman was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment. In addition to this, the two overstayers received additional sentences ranging from 12 to 15 months for violating their visa conditions. However, since the sentences were ordered to run concurrently, the total duration of imprisonment remained at 15 months.
Immigration authorities reiterated their warning against participating in illegal employment, whether paid or unpaid, emphasizing that such actions could lead to imprisonment for up to three years and a maximum fine of $50,000. They also highlighted the severe consequences for individuals found using or possessing forged Hong Kong identity cards belonging to others, which could result in a fine of up to $100,000 and a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment.
Employers who hire illegal workers are also at risk of legal repercussions. Upon conviction, they can face a maximum fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for one year. To avoid liability, employers are not only required to verify a job applicant's HKID card but must also take all necessary steps to determine the individual's lawful employability, including making appropriate inquiries.
In light of this case, Immigration authorities urged all employers to comply with the law and refrain from hiring illegal workers. They reaffirmed their commitment to cracking down on offenders and maintaining vigilance in enforcing immigration regulations.
三名印尼人因非法工作被判入獄
三名印尼公民，包括兩名超期逗留者和一名尋求庇護者，在香港沙田法院被判處監禁。這些年齡在34至41歲之間的女性，因在柴灣一家餐廳非法從事洗碗工作而認罪。這些逮捕行動是由移民調查人員於2月18日進行的打擊非法勞工行動期間進行的。
在身份核查期間，其中一名女性出示了一份禁止她從事任何工作的保證書。另外兩名女性則發現逾期逗留。因此，這三人都被指控在被遣送令下接受就業，或超過停留期限。
在認罪後，每名女性被判處15個月監禁。此外，這兩名超期逗留者還因違反簽證條件而被判處額外的12至15個月監禁。然而，由於判刑是同時執行的，因此實際服刑期限仍為15個月。
移民部門再次警告人們不要從事非法就業，無論是有薪還是無薪，並強調這樣的行為可能導致最高三年的監禁和最高5萬港元的罰款。他們還強調，對於被發現使用或擁有他人的偽造香港身份證的個人，後果嚴重，可能面臨高達10萬港元的罰款和最高10年的監禁。
僱主雇用非法勞工也面臨法律後果。一旦定罪，他們最高可面臨15萬港元的罰款和一年的監禁。為了避免責任，僱主不僅需要核實求職者的香港身份證，還必須採取一切必要措施確定個人是否合法就業，包括進行相應的查詢。
針對此案，移民部門敦促所有僱主遵守法律，不雇用非法勞工。他們重申將繼續打擊違法者並保持對移民法規的執行。
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