A total of 55 illegal workers and 23 employers or persons-in-charge of workplaces were arrested in anti-illegal employment operations in the past nine days, Hong Kong Labor Department said Thursday.

Labor inspectors, Immigration and police officers raided 69 suspected spots, including interior decoration sites, retail shops, eating places as well as computers, electrical appliances and rubber products recycling workshops throughout the territory in the joint operations.

Among the arrested illegal workers, 28 were found working in computers, electrical appliances and rubber products recycling workshops in the New Territories.

As for the remaining 27 illegal workers, the majority was found working as waiters, dish cleaners or general cleaners in eating places and shop assistants in retail shops.

Of the arrested, 37 were two-way permit holders, 13 were overstayers, four were foreign domestic helpers, and one has no proof of identity.

Since January this year, the Labor Department has conducted 53 joint operations with other enforcement departments to combat illegal employment, Senior Labor Officer of the Labor Department Ip Yee-cheung said.

He noted that employing illegal workers is a serious offense.

"Even a first-time offender will be sentenced to three months' imprisonment," he said.

Source: Xinhua