Undocumented Chinese found working in Westport Chinese restaurant

The owner of a Chinese restaurant who employed two Chinese nationals, including her now estranged husband, without a work permit, has been fined €1,500.
Yu Mei Yang of Jade Dragon Chinese Restaurant, The Mall, Westport appeared before last week’s sitting of Westport District Court after inspections of the restaurant discovered the two individuals working without a valid work permit.
Barry Molloy of the Workplace Relations Commission told the court that after the first unannounced inspection on October 7, 2015 when the two workers were detected, Ms Mei Yang later produced a P45 to show their employment had ceased.
However, Mr Molloy said he visited the restaurant on September 5, 2016 and the two individuals were still working and they again did not have any documentation to state they were entitled to work in Ireland.
Mr Colm Keane, solicitor for the defendant, said his client has been in business for 13 years and employed six people. One of the two individuals was her estranged husband and he returned to China after the relationship broke down. He said the other individual was a family friend who stayed in an apartment above the restaurant and helped out.
When asked by Judge Mary Devins if he had any evidence of a marriage or divorce certificate, Mr Keane replied that he did not.
Judge Devins also commented that the actions of Ms Mei Yang to send a P45 to the department and reemploy the two individuals appeared to be underhanded. Mr Keane said she did not understand the seriousness of the issue and the P45 was sent by her accountant on her behalf.
He said she did not seek legal advice at the time. When asked for his opinion on the matter, Mr Molloy said he was not surprised to see the two individuals after the second inspection stating it was not uncommon and he had come across it before.
Judge Devins fined Ms Mei Yang €750 for each of the charges and afforded her two months to pay.