The 14 people detained were five Malaysian men, three Chinese women, one Indian and one Nepalese man, who were all found working in restaurants in Gosford, Taree, Forster, Hamilton and East Maitland. Two Indian men were working illegally in a Newcastle car-wash.

The five people granted bridging visas were two Tongan women living in Narara and The Entrance, an Indian woman working in Woolgoolga, a South Korean man working in Narara and an American woman who had been working in Newcastle.

All those detained have been transferred to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney for processing ahead of their removal from Australia at the earliest opportunity.

“Illegal workers in Australia will not be tolerated and the department actively investigates any reports from the community and takes swift action,” the spokesman said.

“It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that any non-Australian workers they hire hold a visa with valid work rights.” Further investigations are being conducted into the circumstances of their employment.

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 are encouraged to call the Immigration Dob-In Line on 1800 009 623.

Media enquiries: National Communications Branch 02 8862 6261