In the dark over new exercise
I REFER to the front-page report “RM1,200 to register an illegal worker” ( The Star, Feb 15) on the new 10-month exercise to register and rehire illegal workers.
This is the second registration exercise for illegal immigrants after the 6P programme which was launched in 2011 ended last year.
Many illegal workers, unaware of the purpose of the 6P, ended up being deceived by unscrupulous agents who charged them between RM30 and RM350 per person purportedly to get them registered. Many of their names and nationalities were either misspelled or inaccurate.
The online registration which began on Monday has a number of loopholes. Firstly, not all illegal immigrants are computer literate and they would certainly be exploited by those who know a little better. Secondly, not every illegal immigrant from every sector would come forward for fear of being deported since certain sectors are not allowed to re-employ foreign workers. For example, mini markets and sundry shop owners are not allowed to re-engage any foreign worker. Thirdly, some illegal immigrants have transformed themselves into bosses after setting up businesses in various areas including car wash, blouse/scarf sellers at hypermarkets and grass cutting. Fourthly, since the work permits issued under the 6P programme will come to an end this year with no more extension, many, especially those in sectors disqualified from engaging foreign workers under the present plan, would probably go into hiding.
Therefore, the present rehiring programme needs to be fine-tuned to attain its targeted goals.
(1) Allow every illegal immigrant to register with the Government irrespective of sectors they are in since one of the objectives of the programme is to know their exact number in the country.
(2) Certain service sectors should be allowed to rehire these foreign workers as a last choice since the levy is now so high that employers would rather hire locals if there was a choice.
(3) Once registered, these workers should be given temporary permits to continue to stay in the country until the registration exercise ends. Those who want to return to their respective countries should be allowed to do so with minimum penalty.
Many employers are still in the dark over the new exercise and more clarification would be appreciated.