SIX MALAYSIAN ILLEGAL WORKERS DETAINED IN PERTH

By Neville DCruz

MELBOURNE, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Six Malaysian illegal workers who breached
visa conditions are under detention in Perth, the Department of Immigration and
Citizenship (Diac) said.

It said that arrangements were underway to deport the five men and a woman
who were nabbed in an immigration compliance check in Perth's northern suburbs
on Thursday.

All six were working in the horticulture industry, Diac said in a statement.

A department spokesman said there was an ongoing investigation into the
circumstances of their employment, including any involvement by labour hire
organisers.

"The operation should serve as a warning that illegal work and immigration
law breaches would not be tolerated.

"The department is committed to ensuring the integrity of its migration and
visa programs, and this operation demonstrates that if people work illegally or
employ illegal workers, they will be caught."

The spokesman said that employers had a responsibility to check with Diac on
the legality of those they hired to work in Australia.

Between 2008 and 2009, Diac located 990 people who were working in Australia
illegally, including 152 in Western Australia.

It said the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries accounted for
nearly 30 per cent of illegal workers.

Employers convicted of hiring illegal workers face fines of up to A$13,200
(A$1 = RM3) and two years' imprisonment, while companies face fines of up to
A$66,000 for each illegal worker employed.

-- BERNAMA