Compliance officers from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in Adelaide today detained 11 people in an operation targeting illegal workers in the plastering industry.

Officers located the eight unlawful non-citizens and three people suspected of breaching their visa conditions in a house in Adelaide’s north east.

The Chinese nationals are now in detention and facing removal from Australia.

Investigations into the circumstances of their employment, including any involvement of organisers, are ongoing. Since December, Adelaide officers have located and detained 20 people – all Chinese nationals – illegally working as plasterers in the local construction industry.

A departmental spokesman said the operation served as a warning to individuals and employers that illegal work and breaches of immigration law will not be tolerated.

“The department is committed to ensuring the integrity of its migration and visa programs,” the spokesman said.

“The operation demonstrates that if people work illegally or employ illegal workers, they will be caught.

“It is the responsibility of employers to check with the department that all people they hire have the legal right to work in Australia.”

Employers can face severe penalties for hiring people who do not have work rights in Australia. Employers convicted under Commonwealth legislation face fines of up to $13 200 and two years’ imprisonment while companies face fines of up to $66 000 per illegal worker.

Employers can gain access to the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service which allows employers to provide relevant identification details of prospective employees with their consent to quickly confirm that they are eligible to work in Australia.

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

Broadcast-quality vision and audio and print-quality photographs of the operation can be downloaded from the department’s online newsroom at www.newsroom.immi.gov.au