Illegal Malaysian workers arrested in Perth

Australian authorities have arrested seven Malaysian workers illegally working in Perth.

Compliance officers from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) detained these illegal
workers in the Perth northern suburb of Yanchep.

The five men and two women – all Malaysian nationals –  arrived on temporary visas and failed to depart before they expired. The group has been working illegally in the WA agriculture and horticulture industries including in the Carabooda area.

According to a spokesman for the department, they have been placed in immigration detention for processing and will be removed from Australia as soon as possible.

The spokesman said investigations into the circumstances of their employment are ongoing. The workers were located through information gathered by WA compliance officers.

“Illegal workers in Australia will not be tolerated and the department actively investigates community reports and takes swift action to apprehend non-citizens without work rights,” the spokesman said.

“It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that non-Australian workers they hire hold a visa with valid work rights.”

Employers have access to the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service, allowing them to provide relevant identification details of prospective employees, with their consent, to confirm they are eligible to work in Australia.

Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation of having illegal workers face fines of up to $13,200 and two years’ imprisonment, while companies face fines of up to $66,000 per illegal worker.

People with information about illegal workers or visa overstayers should call the Immigration Dob-in Line on 1800 009 623.