| Azlan Othman |
THE ever-popular fruit and vegetable market in Kampong Sengkurong operated mostly by foreign workers came under the microscope yesterday when immigration enforcement officers conducted a spot check.
Eleven foreign workers including five women were nabbed for abusing their immigration passes by working at the market and for failing to produce valid passes. Their employers and the owners of the stalls were also summoned by the Department of Immigration and National Registration (DINR) for further investigation.
Sixteen personnel were involved in the hour-long operation dubbed ‘KESAN JIPK 25/2016’.
A day earlier, the enforcement officers conducted similar operations at three different locations – the business and rented rooms at Mukim Berakas and construction site in Mukim Kilanas.
A run away foreign worker was found at a rented room, and had been reported missing since June last year. His immigration pass had expired on March 11.
Jotting down the details of an immigration offender. – PHOTOS: DINR
Inspection of foreign workers at a construction site
Run away foreign worker caught at a rented room
Meanwhile, at the construction site, four foreign workers were brought to immigration for screening after they failed to show any valid documents. One was found to have run away from his employer. His immigration pass had expired on January 10, 2015.
The department said it is the duty of the employer and the guarantor to ensure the employees or visitors are not violating regulations such as working with other employers or working while holding a visit pass.
To ensure these passes are valid, the department reminds that any dealings of passes (including extensions) are made at the immigration counters and not by other individuals.
The department also reminds employers not to employ foreign nationals who are not on their guarantees, for example to employ borrowed maids or visit pass holders because it is an offence. If convicted, the employer will be fined not less than $3,000 for each immigration offence.
The department welcomes public cooperation to jointly provide information relating to immigration offenders. All information and the name of the informer will be kept strictly confidential. Information can be channelled by contacting the department hotline at 8734888 and 8753888.
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