The Immigration Department (ImmD) has wrapped up an eight-day territory-wide series of enforcement actions codenamed “Swordfish”, arresting 14 suspected illegal workers and seven suspected employers between 4 and 11 November. Investigators swept 47 locations ranging from restaurants and retail shops to activity venues and employment agencies. Five of those arrested were serving foreign domestic helpers found moon-lighting outside their contracted households, while four others were overstayers whose domestic-helper visas had expired. The remaining suspects included two holders of recognisance forms, a visitor, an imported worker and an illegal immigrant.
Under Hong Kong law, a foreign domestic helper (FDH) may perform only the household duties listed in the Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties attached to the standard contract; any off-contract work is a breach of visa conditions. The ImmD reiterated that offenders face up to two years’ imprisonment and a HK$50,000 (US$6,400) fine, while employers who knowingly hire unauthorised workers risk penalties of HK$500,000 and up to ten years in jail following sentencing-guideline revisions earlier this year.
![Hong Kong Immigration raids nab 21 in crackdown on illegal work by foreign domestic helpers]()
The operation highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of both companies and individual households that “borrow” helpers to cover dish-washing, cleaning or childcare duties during peak seasons. Corporate mobility managers should review staff-housing arrangements to ensure that any FDHs hired by expatriates are confined to contractual duties; even voluntary weekend work at company events can constitute a violation.
Beyond compliance, the raids underline Hong Kong’s vulnerability to trafficking-in-persons (TIP) offences. All arrestees were screened for TIP indicators, with ImmD officers empowered to provide shelter, medical attention and counselling where coercion or exploitation is suspected. Employers are urged to verify a worker’s lawful employability by inspecting original identity documents, making and retaining copies, and documenting due-diligence enquiries.
Practical take-away: multinational companies should update onboarding checklists for executives relocating with household staff, require proof of valid FDH contracts, and brief HR teams on the heightened enforcement climate. A dedicated hotline (+852 3861 5000) and online reporting portal allow organisations to confirm a helper’s status or flag suspected abuse anonymously.
Under Hong Kong law, a foreign domestic helper (FDH) may perform only the household duties listed in the Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties attached to the standard contract; any off-contract work is a breach of visa conditions. The ImmD reiterated that offenders face up to two years’ imprisonment and a HK$50,000 (US$6,400) fine, while employers who knowingly hire unauthorised workers risk penalties of HK$500,000 and up to ten years in jail following sentencing-guideline revisions earlier this year.
The operation highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of both companies and individual households that “borrow” helpers to cover dish-washing, cleaning or childcare duties during peak seasons. Corporate mobility managers should review staff-housing arrangements to ensure that any FDHs hired by expatriates are confined to contractual duties; even voluntary weekend work at company events can constitute a violation.
Beyond compliance, the raids underline Hong Kong’s vulnerability to trafficking-in-persons (TIP) offences. All arrestees were screened for TIP indicators, with ImmD officers empowered to provide shelter, medical attention and counselling where coercion or exploitation is suspected. Employers are urged to verify a worker’s lawful employability by inspecting original identity documents, making and retaining copies, and documenting due-diligence enquiries.
Practical take-away: multinational companies should update onboarding checklists for executives relocating with household staff, require proof of valid FDH contracts, and brief HR teams on the heightened enforcement climate. A dedicated hotline (+852 3861 5000) and online reporting portal allow organisations to confirm a helper’s status or flag suspected abuse anonymously.
