Earlier this month compliance officers visited 22 businesses in the Busselton and Margaret River shires, including vineyards, cellar doors, restaurants, hotels, backpacker accommodation providers and labour hire companies.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said compliance officers had previously located illegal workers in the region, however the emphasis was on education during the latest visit.

“Harvests are traditionally times when temporary workers and foreign nationals with work entitlements, such as those with working holiday visas, provide much of the labour force,” Senator Evans said.

“But employers must be aware it is a criminal offence to employ or refer a person for employment where that person is not entitled to work in Australia.”

Employers convicted of illegal worker offences face fines of up to $13, 200 and two years’ imprisonment and companies up to $66,000, for each illegal worker.

“Working with local businesses, and the police and maintaining a regular and visible presence in regional WA is an important part of the department’s work in preventing and deterring illegal workers.”

In addition worker protection laws, which came into effect last September, include requirements to pay overseas workers market salary rates, so that temporary work visa holders are on the same wages and conditions of employment as those provided to an Australian worker doing the same job.

Employers can check work entitlements using DIAC’s website service at www.immi.gov.au/evisa/vevo