Penang Immigration Department director Meor Hezbullah Meor Abdul Malik said the response for the rehiring scheme, nicknamed “e-card programme”, was encouraging.
He said so far, 1,212 e-cards had been issued. They were part of the 1,230 applications in the state — the fifth highest in the country.
Some applications, Hezbollah said, had been rejected for failing to meet requirements.
To qualify, these illegal workers must be hired by an employer, have no criminal record, must be from the permitted manpower source countries, must not have run off from previous employers and pass a health screening.
“On average, we process 48 applications from about 10 companies daily.
“I would like to welcome all to our second floor to get your workers registered. We are even open on weekends,” Hezbollah said at a press conference at the state immigration headquarters on Jalan Kelasah here today.
Hezbollah said last year, the Penang Immigration Department deported 4,200 illegals for various immigration offences, while 1,900 people had opted into the previous rehiring programme.
He said a majority of the illegals deported from Penang were working in the construction industry.
After June 30, employers caught hiring foreigners without proper documents can be charged under Section 55(B) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which carries a fine of up to RM50,000 and imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both, for each illegal foreign worker employed.
Employers can be also subjected to whipping for hiring more than five illegal workers under the law.
Hezbollah said those with queries can call the communications and corporate services division at 04-397-8011 during office hours.
The national rehiring programme by the Immigration Department began on Feb 15 and will end on June 30.
It is meant for illegal workers in the peninsula to apply for work permits to meet job demands in several sectors — construction, plantation, services, manufacturing and agriculture.
Those registering will receive an enforcement card (e-card) which would have a Feb 15, 2018 expiration date. Illegals without passports can also use the e-card to obtain passports at their respective embassies here.
After Feb 15, 2018, the illegals would have to go through the normal process of obtaining temporary work permits from the Immigration Department.
Employers or illegals will not be penalised upon registration for the programme.
Later, Hezbollah brought reporters for a tour on how illegals were registered under the rehiring programme.
First, workers would have to get registered at the e-card counter, get their photos taken, personal details jotted down and fingerprints taken on a biometric scanner.
The worker, accompanied by their boss, must certify that the illegal was working with them. An “akuan penerimaan” (acceptance certificate) will be given to the applicant. There is no fee for the entire process.
The employer, with the acceptance certificate, would then have to go to three vendors appointed by the Immigration Department to handle the paperwork.
This process has been outsourced to Iman Sdn Bhd, Bukit Megah Sdn Bhd and MyEG.
The employer may shop for a vendor of their liking. The vendors basically handle paperwork which includes the collection of employers’ SSM (Companies’ Commission/RoC) certificate, medical check-up and other documents.
Once the paperwork with the vendors is completed, the applicants will be given the green light to get an e-card from the immigration counters.
Checks by FMT at the Seberang Jaya Immigration Department with the three vendors appointed showed that an employer would have to give an upfront payment ranging from RM500 to RM600 for each worker.
About RM3,000-6,000 must be paid later, which includes Fomema (medical check-up) and other handling fees. The fee is to be paid in staggered payments as each process is completed.
It was reported that the Immigration Department is targeting at least 400,000 illegal immigrants nationwide to enrol in the programme.