The Macao police have nabbed 38 laborers suspected to be
illegally employed in a hotel-casino construction site, local media
reported Tuesday.
Macao Post Daily quoted police sources as saying that
67 police personnel launched a massive swoop on the site and the
raid lasted for five hours, involving identification checks of over
240 laborers.
The newspaper reported that 28 of the suspects were holding
mainland passports but lacked authorization to work in Macao, one
was believed to hold bogus travel document and nine were found
working not in line with their specific work permits.
The swoop was a routine operation against illegal laboring on
local construction sites, the sources were cited.
The construction industry has been booming in Macao, which is
viewed by local analysts as being generated by the blossoming
gaming business.
The employment of illegal workers is a crime that incurs hefty
fines and imprisonment in case of repeated offenders. Illegally
employed workers are customarily ordered to leave Macao.
(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2006)
