The Immigration Department announced on 23 September that a month-long enforcement operation code-named “Project Swordfish” has led to the arrest of 20 individuals for breaching conditions of stay. Eleven foreign domestic helpers were detained for taking on non-domestic work—including restaurant shifts and doorstep sales—while nine local employers were arrested on suspicion of hiring illegal workers. Under Hong Kong’s standard employment contract, helpers are required to reside in their employer’s home and perform household duties only. Violations can result in deportation and a two-year re-entry ban. Hiring firms face fines of up to HK$500 000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment. The crackdown follows a 25 per cent rise in complaints about helpers moonlighting in part-time jobs, fuelled by a tight labour market and higher living costs. Authorities used surveillance, undercover visits and database checks to trace social-media adverts offering part-time cleaning services at rates well below market levels. Employers are advised to audit their current contracts and remind staff of legal obligations. Corporate relocation programmes must also ensure that expatriate families hiring helpers receive compliance briefings, as liability extends to household members who knowingly permit illegal work. The Immigration Department says it will continue targeted inspections at shopping malls, industrial areas and transit hubs, and encourages the public to report suspected abuses via the 24-hour hotline.
