The Consequences of Hiring Illegal Workers

 

 

As an employer, it is your responsibility to make sure that all of your employees are working legally in Australia. This means checking their visa status before they start working for you, and periodically throughout their employment.

 

Why Checking Visa Status is Important

There are several reasons why it is important to check the visa status of your employees, both before and during their employment. Firstly, if you are caught hiring illegal workers, you as the employer can face severe penalties. These include fines and, in some cases, criminal sanctions. You may be penalised even if you were not aware that your employees were working unlawfully. Secondly, company directors and officers may face personal liability if there are illegal workers in the business. And finally, if illegal workers are found in your business, it could damage your reputation and affect your bottom line.

There have been several businesses in the hospitality industry who have been targeted by the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Department of Home Affairs. Due to data matching initiatives between the ATO and other government agencies, employers hiring staff unlawfully are more likely than ever to be caught.

 

How to Check Visa Status

There are a few different ways that you can check the visa status of your employees. One way is to ask to see their passport and visa when they start work. You can also check online using the Department of Home Affairs’ Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system. VEVO is a free service that allows you to check the status of someone’s visa online. To use VEVO, you will need the person’s name, date of birth and passport number.

 

Conclusion

It pays to be vigilant about checking the visa status of all of your employees—both before and during their employment—to avoid any potential problems down the line. In today’s climate, even a simple mistake by employers can result in huge fines and issues. With the help of an experienced immigration lawyer, these mistakes can easily be avoided.

 

Need help with your obligation when hiring foreign workers?

Give us a call 0n +61 3 9573 5200 or book yourself a consultation here.