Illegal worker crackdown in regional NSW

Friday 27 February 2015. Illegal workers in regional NSW have been targeted this week, with 22 people detained after being found working or admitting to working at local farms, restaurants and small businesses.  The large scale operation was applauded today by Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash.

 

Minister Cash warned that the Government is determined to not only actively detain and remove illegal workers from Australia but is also pursuing employers of illegal workers.

 

“The group comprised 14 men and 8 women from six Asian countries including the People’s Republic of China and Malaysia, were located at different regional communities including Bathurst, Forbes, Lithgow and 10 people found in Orange,” Minister Cash said.

 

“Those detained have all been transferred to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre where they will be removed from Australia as soon as possible.”

 

“I want to reiterate to regional employers and labour hire contractors that if they are caught hiring illegal workers they face substantial fines and civil penalties for allowing or referring people to undertake illegal work.”

 

“I congratulate our compliance officers from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) whose operations around rural communities reduce the number jobs from being wrongfully taken away from Australians or lawful foreign workers.” 

 

Employers can check the visa details and work rights of non-citizens using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) tool on the DIBP website.

 

Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation for employing illegal workers face fines of up to $20,400 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $102,000 per illegal worker.

 

People who have information about illegal workers or visa overstayers can call the Immigration Dob-In line on 1800 009 623.