Poor response to rehiring programme
PUTRAJAYA: A total of 10,239 foreign workers were registered by 2,210 employers under the Rehiring Programme since Feb 15 until Feb 28.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed however was not satisfied with the number.
“It is very low. To say they face difficulties signing up is not justified because it can be done online and they need not have to go to the immigration office or company to register the illegal immigrants,” he told reporters after presenting the Immigration Department 2015 excellent service awards to 813 recipients here yesterday.
He said employers who were not IT savvy could visit the immigration branches for advisory service.
The Rehiring Programme up to Dec 31 is to provide opportunities for illegals from 15 source countries working illegally in the country to be granted valid work permits to meet the permitted employment sector.
He said the registration fee of RM800 under the Rehiring Programme was reasonable and fair and took into account the various costs incurred by the government following the entry of foreign workers, including the costs of health, safety, detention and deportation.
“To me it is a fair trade- off, you want foreign workers you pay for it,” he said, adding that the registration fee in Malaysia was much lower compared to other countries like Singapore and Middle East that used a large number of foreign workers. — Bernama
It is very low. To say they face difficulties signing up is not justified because it can be done online and they need not have to go to the immigration office or company to register the illegal immigrants.
Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Deputy Home Minister