Illegal immigrant Rehiring Programme to end on June 30 — Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will be terminating the Rehiring Programme for illegal immigrants by the Immigration Department on June 30.

Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said illegal immigrants who have been issued with valid work permit would be allowed in the manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture and service sectors under the programme which began on Feb 15 2016.

“Since its launch in February 2016 to last Monday, 744,942 illegal immigrants and 83,919 employers had registered under the Rehiring Programme,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

Muhyiddin said all transactions with vendors appointed earlier would be terminated after the date and there would be no more extension.

“Members of the public and employers can deal with the Immigrant Department for all services on hiring of foreign workers after that,” he said.

Apart from that, he said the voluntary surrender programme or better known as 3+1 Programme would continue until Aug 30 to enable all illegal immigrants in the country who are not eligible under the Rehiring Programme to return to their countries of origin voluntarily.

He said the Immigration Department would be conducting comprehensive enforcement operations to f lush out illegal immigrants and recalcitrant employers after the Rehiring and 3+1 Programmes have ended.

The government will not compromise on ensuring employers and foreign workers comply with the laws of the country.

“Stern measures will be taken to overcome the problems of illegal foreign workers in the country,” he said.