Stern action towards employers who employ undocumented migrants, says KL Immigration

Stern action towards employers who employ undocumented migrants, says KL Immigration

KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department has warned employers not to hire undocumented migrants or face stern action.

Its director Wan Mohammed Saupee Wan Yusoff said one of their key performance index (KPI) is for the arrest of employers who committed the offence.

“We are looking at ways to deal with the influx of foreigners with a focus on 20 hotspot areas in Kuala Lumpur including Pasar Pudu, Jalan Silang, KLCC and Kota Raya.

“In each of these locations, we will place a senior officer to monitor the area and each of them will be assigned a monthly KPI involving the arrest of employers who employ illegal immigrants,” he said during a Buka Puasa event with the media on Wednesday (March 27).

Wan Mohammed Saupee said that a total of 871 operations were carried out last year with 7,601 foreigners checked and 2,137 undocumented migrants arrested.

Through operations, he said, they arrested five employers while 27 employers were issued compounds worth over RM428,500 last year.

“This year, between January and March, a total of 243 operations were carried out involving 1,716 foreigners who were checked with 710 undocumented migrants and 44 employers arrested.

“All those employers involved 43 local individuals and one Bangladeshi who committed offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63.

“At the same time, 13 compounds worth RM205,700 were issued,” he said.

He said over 2.5 million foreigners have valid work permits throughout the country with 40% of them working in Kuala Lumpur.