KUALA LUMPUR: Twelve Malaysians were among 27 foreigners found to be working illegally at a farm in Queensland, Australia, on Feb 7.
Nine of the Malaysians were determined to have overstayed their visas, while the remaining three were working in breach of their visas, including the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).
In a statement yesterday, the Australian High Commission here said most Malaysians are able to travel to Australia on an ETA – however, it is intended for tourism and does not confer the right to work.
"The Australian government is determined to prevent the exploitation of foreign workers in Australia.
"The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), through its operational arm, the Australian Border Force, targets illegal workers and employers to stop visa fraud and foreign worker exploitation," it said.
It is learnt that some Malaysians are tricked into scams in which ‘agents’ offer them ‘visas’ for sale, for the purpose of working Down Under. Once at their work site, victims would find themselves not being paid, or paid very low wages and living in poor conditions.
"The Australian High Commission reminds Malaysians planning to work in Australia to ensure they have the correct visa before they travel," the statement continued.
It added that foreign nationals caught working illegally are detained and removed from Australia. They may also face sanctions on their future travel, and incur the costs of their removal from Australia.
Malaysians travelling to Australia are advised to go through the proper channels to obtain visas. The website for the DIBP's service delivery partner, VFS Global, which operates the Australian Visa Application Centre in Kuala Lumpur is: www.vfsglobal.com/australia/malaysia/.
Information on Australia’s Immigration and Border Protection policy can be found at: www.border.gov.au.