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One week to
repatriate
retrenched workers
WITH the threat of
retrenchments looming
large amid the global credit Press Digest
crunch, the Immigration by Kong See Hoh
Department has issued a newsdesk@thesundaily.com
stern warning that employ-
ers who do not repatriate These will continue next year,
foreign workers within a week but more often.”
of retrenching them will be Employers were also
fined or jailed. reminded that beginning next
Immigration department year, those found harbouring
enforcement director Datuk illegal immigrants would
Ishak Mohamed said if have their business licences
employers do not immediately revoked. Appeals from errant
repatriate the workers they employers, with the exception
retrench, these unemployed of those who come forward,
foreigners could become a would not be entertained,
threat to public security. Ishak said.
“I am warning employers, Meanwhile, Human
once they lay off foreign Resources Minister Datuk
workers, they have to repat- Dr S. Subramaniam said his
riate them within a week or ministry would work with the
face stern action,” he told Home Ministry to ensure that
Nanyang Siang Pau in an laid off foreign workers are
interview. repatriated.
Ishak said there are 2.2 He told the daily the min-
million foreign workers in the istry was paying close attention
country, with a majority in the to the possibility of foreign
construction industry. workers being retrenched.
He also said an estimated “This (retrenchment of
one million illegal foreign foreign workers) is going to be
workers are employed in a serious problem as it affects
various sectors in the country public security. I will discuss
and they too, if left jobless, with the Home Ministry the
would have a big impact on setting up of a joint mechanism
public security. to ensure employers repatriate
Ishak said the department the foreign workers they
had no plans for a massive retrench.”
operation against illegal On the fate of some
immigrants in the new year 500,000 Malaysians working
but smaller scale raids would in Singapore, Subramaniam
be carried out more frequently. said the latest reports he had
“At present, we conduct received showed there had
raids three times a week. been no retrenchments so far.