Australia puts £50k price tag on illegal workers
24 May 2013
Australian employers hiring illegal workers can expect a maximum $76.5k (£49k) fine, as new measures come into place on 1 June.
Fri, 24 May 2013
Australian employers hiring illegal workers can expect a maximum $76.5k (£49k) fine, as new measures come into place on 1 June.
New penalties will come into effect where, in the words of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, “a person allows or refers an unlawful non-citizen to work; or a non-citizen to work in breach of a visa condition that limits and restricts work”.
It has been a criminal offence to employ or refer an illegal worker for employment since 2007, but up until no only warning notices or sanctions could be imposed.
New infringement notices and penalties ranging from $3,060 up to the maximum are part of measures “an essential part of the government's effort to stamp out illegal work practices and ensure local jobs are available for local jobseekers”, says immigration and citizenship minister Brendan O’Connor.
O’Connor says that in 2011-12, almost 2,000 people were caught working illegally in Australia, 77% of them since being removed from or leaving the country. A further 1,600 have been found to the end of March this year.
Australian employers hiring illegal workers can expect a maximum $76.5k (£49k) fine, as new measures come into place on 1 June.
New penalties will come into effect where, in the words of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, “a person allows or refers an unlawful non-citizen to work; or a non-citizen to work in breach of a visa condition that limits and restricts work”.
It has been a criminal offence to employ or refer an illegal worker for employment since 2007, but up until no only warning notices or sanctions could be imposed.
New infringement notices and penalties ranging from $3,060 up to the maximum are part of measures “an essential part of the government's effort to stamp out illegal work practices and ensure local jobs are available for local jobseekers”, says immigration and citizenship minister Brendan O’Connor.
O’Connor says that in 2011-12, almost 2,000 people were caught working illegally in Australia, 77% of them since being removed from or leaving the country. A further 1,600 have been found to the end of March this year.
- In March, a Singaporean retailer became the first person in the city-state to be found guilty in court under revised laws banning use of unlicensed employment agencies – but will be glad Singapore’s laws were not as stringent as Australia, as he paid a $4,500 (£2,400) fine.
