1,000 camp outside dept to take part in rehiring programme
PUTRAJAYA: More than 1,000 foreign workers, including their employers, camped outside the Immigration Department headquarters in Precinct 3 here to take part in the rehiring programme for undocumented foreign workers.
The programme concluded at midnight yesterday.
A survey by the New Straits Times Press here yesterday found that many of them had been camping at the headquarters since early morning and were waiting for their turn to complete their application for the programme.
The rehiring programme began on Feb 15, 2016.
Employers expressed dissatisfaction with the way the process was handled by the Immigration Department staff, claiming that it was time-consuming.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said the programme would not be extended after the deadline.
In fact, he said, after June 30, the Immigration Department would carry out comprehensive enforcement operations to hunt illegal immigrants and employers who did not legalise their employment.
Under the programme, undocumented foreign workers would be granted work permits so that they could be employed in permitted sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture and services.
MyEG, Bukit Megah Sdn Bhd and Iman Resources Sdn Bhd are among those appointed to provide recruitment services for foreign workers without any documents.
However, their services were terminated on June 2.