KUALA LUMPUR: 100,646 foreign workers holding Temporary Work Visit Passes in the construction sector could not be detected after the foreign worker whitewashing programme was implemented by the Construction Labour Exchange Centre Bhd (CLAB), says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister warned that the government would implement measures and punitive actions against employers and foreign workers who commit offences under existing regulations.
"They come in holding construction sector work passes, but when whitewashing is carried out by CLAB, we cannot find any effect. If they misuse the passes, we will take action according to the offence.
"If their passes have expired, they should have signed a check-out memo and left the country. If they do not leave the country, we will track them down,” he said.
According to Saifuddin, the matter was revealed following a presentation by the Construction Industry Development Board during a joint committee meeting between his ministry and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim on the management of foreign workers on Tuesday (Aug 19).
"We will see what act they violated and punitive action will be taken,” he added.
Previously, Saifuddin said that applications for foreign worker employment quotas are now only allowed on a case-by-case basis involving three main sectors – plantations, mining and construction – and 10 selected sub-sectors. – Bernama
