Hong Kong immigration officers have arrested 16 people, most of whom are foreign domestic helpers suspected of engaging in other jobs during their free time or while overstaying.

Senior Immigration Officer Fu Chit-ho said on Tuesday that the 16 people comprised 10 suspected illegal workers and six alleged employers arrested over a three-day period since Sunday in a citywide “Swordfish Operation” targeting foreign domestic helpers breaching their conditions of stay.

Fu said the suspected illegal workers were all female, mainly of Indonesian or Filipino nationality, aged between 26 and 43.

Their statuses included five current foreign domestic helpers (FDHs), three overstaying former FDHs, one in Hong Kong under visitor status and one imported labour worker.

They were found working in various roles, including cleaning guest houses and waitressing at restaurants.

“Preliminary investigation shows that the arrested illegal workers were introduced to the work by friends or fellow nationals and were paid in cash, ranging from HK$100 [US$13] to HK$500,” Fu said.

The six suspected employers consist of five men and one woman, aged 41 to 63, who are proprietors or people in charge of the businesses involved.