Throw the book at employers hiring illegal workers

I REFER to the report “Militant guards at your service” ( The Star, Sept 22).

It is a wake-up call for the authorities to get tough with employers who do not adhere to procedures when hiring foreign workers irrespective of the nature of the job. It is mind-boggling how seven suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants were hired as security guards by licensed security companies.

The huge number of illegal workers in the country itself is a matter of concern as we do not know whether there are undesirable elements among them. The arrest of the seven suspected militants elevates the concern.

The authorities should seriously press for employers who are convicted of hiring illegal workers to be caned. Imposing a fine on the culprits doesn’t seem to be the solution as many employers have no qualms about not registering their foreign workers.

The Immigration Act 1959/1963 was amended in 2002 for caning to be meted out. I am not wrong to say that a few illegal workers who were arrested a couple of years ago faced the full brunt of the law.

Those who were convicted were jailed and caned. But I have yet to read in the newspapers of any employer who was found guilty of hiring more than five illegal workers receiving the same punishment.

Employers have been let off with mere fines. Even increasing the fine on employers of illegal workers under the Employment Restriction Act is not the solution. Enforcement is the key.

We have long been too dependent on cheap foreign labour. We have to move forward and change our mindset.

Moving ahead with the required knowledge and technology is the only way to progress and attain the edge.

With more than one million illegal workers in the country already, some companies are still complaining that they do not have sufficient workers and their business is being affected.

I am not wrong to say that the problem has been allowed to balloon over the years due to lax enforcement. It is further compounded by some irresponsible employers who persist in hiring them while ignoring the need for them to be legalised.

The Government’s attempts to restrict the flow of illegal immigrants would be futile if employers continue to hire these people.

I am a long-time resident of Subang Jaya. Every other day, I see new faces of foreign workers at every corner. Foreigners are hired in food stalls, car workshops, the wet market, restaurants and even as cashiers at petrol stations. The wet market in SS15 has seen the number of foreign workers increase significantly over time.

There has been a lot of talk by some employers that locals do not want to do certain jobs. Why point the finger at the locals?

It is no secret that employers prefer to hire foreigners as they are paid lower salaries. Pay the locals a decent wage and I am sure they would be interested to work.

I am not wrong to say that many of the foreigners who are hired can’t even speak English or Bahasa Malaysia. I have even come across a few at convenience stores and restaurants with strong body odour. I am not being biased but such people should not be hired as this is a hygiene issue.

The crux of the huge number of foreigners working illegally in the country is that there are willing parties to hire them and the lax enforcement in keeping the numbers down.

I hate to say this but if Singapore is able to implement and enforce the law on illegal workers, why can’t we?

It is no secret that it is an offence for landlords to rent out their premises to illegal workers. Action must also be taken against those who violate the law in this aspect.

The authorities must view the problem seriously. Throw the book at employers, irrespective of their status, who hire illegal foreign workers. This would surely deter others from hiring them and it would lead to more locals being employed.

Unless the law is enforced strictly and employers of illegal workers dealt with severely, more foreigners would be attracted to come to our country.