Hong Kong’s Immigration Department (ImmD) stepped up workplace enforcement ahead of the holiday season, announcing on 25 September that 13 people were arrested in a week-long operation codenamed “Lightshadow”. Officers—working with Police, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure & Cultural Services Department—raided restaurants, construction sites and cleaning contractors between 18 and 24 September. The suspects include eight overstayers, three visitors holding no work rights and two local residents accused of employing them. If convicted, illegal workers face up to two years’ imprisonment and a HK$50,000 fine, while employers risk HK$500,000 in penalties and up to 10 years in jail. ImmD said the blitz aims to deter businesses from taking advantage of labour shortages by hiring undocumented staff, a practice that also undermines Hong Kong’s array of official talent-import schemes. The department reminded employers that foreign nationals must hold a valid employment visa, not just a visitor permit or dependent visa covering study only. Global companies with outsourced cleaning or fitting-out projects should re-check subcontractors’ compliance. Directors convicted of employing illegal workers may face a “visas-to-owners” cooling-off period that blocks their firms from filing future employment-visa applications for up to 24 months.
Source: HKSAR Government Press Release
