XN000022-1982-03-12 — Page 17

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FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1982

REMINDER ON EMPLOYING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

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A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS NOT TO EMPLOY VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN PROHIBITED FROM TAKING EMPLOYMENT BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.

HE ALSO ADVISED THOSE ALREADY EMPLOYING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES TO CHECK THEIR REFUGEE CARDS WHENEVER WAGES ARE PAID TO ENSURE THAT THEY REMAIN LAWFULLY EMPLOYABLE.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT A FACTORY PROPRIETOR WAS FINED $5 000 AT KWUN TONG COURT RECENTLY FOR EMPLOYING A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROHIBITED FROM TAKING EMPLOYMENT BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.

NOTING THAT THE OFFENCE WAS A SERIOUS ONE, THE MAGISTRATE SAID THE MAXIMUM PENALTY WAS $50 000 AND ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT AND WARNED THAT THE DEFENDANT COULD BE SENT TO JAIL IF HE COMMITTED THE SAME OFFENCE AGAIN.

ACCORDING TO THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1981, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE IS LAWFULLY EMPLOYABLE ONLY IF HIS OR HER REFUGEE CARD DOES NOT PROHIBIT HIM OR HER FROM TAKING EMPLOYMENT.

THE ORDINANCE ALSO REQUIRES AN EMPLOYER TO CHECK THE REFUGEE CARDS OF HIS VIETNAMESE EMPLOYEES WHENEVER WAGES ARE PAID TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REMAIN LAWFULLY EMPLOYABLE.

THE SPOKESMAN FURTHER REMINDED EMPLOYERS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CARD AND A CARD ISSUED BY A VIETNAMESE REFUGEES TRANSIT CENTRE.

*THE FORMER IS A CARD OF IDENTITY ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION TO A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE WHILE THE LATTER IS NOT. EMPLOYERS SHOULD NOT EMPLOY VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHOSE REFUGEE CARDS HAVE BEEN ENDORSED WITH THE WORDS 'EMPLOYMENT NOT PERMITTED',+ HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED EMPLOYERS TO CONSULT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IF THEY HAVE ANY DOUBT.