Australia to punish employers of illegal workers

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:57:00 04/12/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipinos planning to find work in Australia by entering that country on tourist visas will find this harder to do in August when stiffer sanctions come into force against those who employ them, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

In her report to the home office, Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro of the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney said the new rule is contained in the amendment to the Migration Act of 1958, or the Australian Migration Amendment (Employer Sanction) Act of 2007.

Citing Filipino-Australian lawyer Imelda Argel, the Philippine embassy in Sydney said once the law takes effect, persons who employ or even simply refer an illegal immigrant to an employer face a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment and/or fines up to A$60,000 (US$55,000).

“When there are aggravating circumstances such as slavery, forced labor, or sexual servitude, the employers can be punished per worker exploited with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or fines up to A$165,000 (US$150,000),” Argel said.

Lazaro said employers of overstaying foreigners or individuals who violate visa conditions include Filipino-Australian employers, recruiters, and migration agents who exploit these workers “in the guise of compassion or pakiusap [requests].”

She said the rule aims “to impose sanctions on persons who are connected with work by unlawful non-citizens or work in breach of visa conditions and for related purposes.”

She urged Filipinos seeking work in Australia to go through proper channels such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.