A total of 17 people were arrested in crackdowns on illegal workers yesterday.

The Immigration Department, Police and Labour Department jointly raided 50 places in Kowloon West, including restaurants, retail shops, flat units under renovation in residential buildings, logistics companies' loading bays and Temple Street and Tung Choi Street stalls.

Officers arrested 10 illegal workers, two over-stayers, one illegal immigrant and two employers. The illegal workers were men, aged 20 to 43 - including seven who held recognisance forms, prohibiting them from taking up employment.

The Immigration Department also arrested two illegal workers, aged 26 and 31, in a flat under renovation. The men were also holding recognisance forms.

The department stressed that it is an offence for illegal immigrants or people who are the subject of a removal order or a deportation order to take up any employment, establish or join any business. Offenders are liable to a fine of $50,000 and three years in prison.

It is also an offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000 and three years in prison.