13 women were arrested in operations that targeted restaurants and cleaning companies In an effort to further stamp out illegal work, Immigration Department operatives carried out joint operations with the police and the Labour Department from Mar 13 to 20, which resulted in the arrest of 34 people. A statement issued by Immigration on Friday said those arrested comprised 26 suspected illegal workers, seven employers and one aider and abettor. During the first four days of the operation, officers focused on industries prone to illegal employment, including the catering and cleaning industries. Particularly targeted were 23 locations where they suspected illegal work was taking place. PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE Arrested during this period were 19 suspected illegal workers comprising 13 women and 6 men, aged 22 to 62. Among them, four were asylum seekers and three were found in possession of forged HK identity cards. The workers were reportedly found working as dishwashers, cleaners and kitchen workers. Six men aged 39 to 53 were also arrested on suspicion of hiring the illegal workers. Construction sites were targeted in last 3 days of operations Subsequent operations that targeted construction and scaffolding sites and performance venues resulted in seven other suspected illegal workers being arrested, along with one employer and one abettor. The suspected illegal workers comprised one man and six women, aged 24 to 48. Among them was a woman holding a recognisance form. A man aged 67 was suspected of employing the illegal workers and was also arrested, along with a suspected abettor, a man aged 40. Basahin ang detalye! Immigration reiterated that illegal work is a serious offence in which the maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. The maximum jail term is three years if the offender is an overstayer or a recognizance paper holder. Employers could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined a maximum of $500,000.