IMMIGRATION DEPT WANTS BUSINESS LICENCES OF EMPLOYERS PROTECTING ILLEGALS REVOKED

SEREMBAN (Malaysia), Nov 21 (Bernama) -- Employers, especially food outlet
owners, in future might face the risk of losing their business licences if they
are caught harbouring illegal immigrants or employing foreign workers who do not
have work permits.

Immigration Department enforcement director, Ishak Mohamed said a proposal
on the matter would be submitted to the government soon as the imposition of
fines to deter employers from committing such offences, as practised now, had
proven to be ineffective.

"In 2007, we collected RM8.5 million in fines and so far this year, RM21
million have been collected with RM10 million at our Putrajaya office
alone.

"They (employers) can easily afford to pay the fines, so it doesn't really
work," he told reporters after launching a seminar on the hiring of foreign
workers in this southern city Thursday.

He added that last year, 58,882 illegal immigrants and 418 employers were
bought to book while for this year, the numbers stood at 60,823 and 785
respectively.
-- BERNAMA