Illegal Workers Detained in Adelaide

Immigration officers in Adelaide detained six people after an early morning operation in a northern city suburb. Five of the people located in the operation were found to be unlawfully in Australia while the sixth has had her tourist visa canceled for working contrary to conditions on her visa.

The group comprised four Laotians (a husband and wife plus another man and a woman), a Thai woman and a Malaysian man.

All are believed to have been working illegally in Adelaide’s northern horticultural industry area. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is now seeking information on any involvement of organizers behind this illegal work.

Senator Evans said that South Australian Police assisted immigration compliance officers in the operation that was launched following information received from the community.

‘The six detained today now face removal from Australia for staying after their visas had expired or for working contrary to their visa conditions,’ Senator Evans said.

‘It is illegal for people from overseas to work in Australia unless they have work rights on their visa. Tourist visas do not carry work rights.

‘We welcome tourists to Australia but they are not able to work. To do so is illegal unless they have the proper visa to do so.’

People who are removed from Australia face exclusion from returning for up to three years.

Employers who hire people from overseas are responsible for checking they have work rights. People found employing visitors illegally face penalties of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines up to $66 000 per illegal worker.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship offers a free service to employers to check work rights. Employers can access to the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service which allows employers to provide relevant identification details of prospective employees with their consent to quickly confirm that they are eligible to work in Australia.

Source: Minister for Immigration and Citizenship

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