'Cheated' over foreign worker permits, hawker faces RM100k fine
A food hawker's attempts to secure work permits for his foreign workers turned into a nightmare when he was slapped with an Immigration Department fine of RM100,000.
Pang Yee Wah said he had been cheated of about the same amount when he tried to engage two agents to secure work permits for his 14 workers.
"I tried to get them permits, I tried to do whatever I could so they would have permits.
"Finally, I (could lose) RM100,000 and my workers are arrested," Pang told Malaysiakini.
A food hawker's attempts to secure work permits for his foreign workers turned into a nightmare when he was slapped with an Immigration Department fine of RM100,000.
Pang Yee Wah said he had been cheated of about the same amount when he tried to engage two agents to secure work permits for his 14 workers.
"I tried to get them permits, I tried to do whatever I could so they would have permits.
"Finally, I (could lose) RM100,000 and my workers are arrested," Pang told Malaysiakini.
Pang said he had tried to obtain the permits for his workers at a rate of RM9,000 per worker through the 6P amnesty programme in 2014, but could only register one worker due to quotas.
Last September, he tried again to legalise his workers through a purported labour outsourcing firm, but the firm only returned identification papers and not work permits.
In December, he was introduced to a man claiming to be a Labour Department personnel who supplied 14 green cards which cost RM2,000 each but the cards turned out to be invalid and his workers were nabbed.
Permits constantly rejected
Pang said he has lodged police reports on both cases with police and the Labour Department.
"I find it strange that there have been news of so many agents arrested and yet they still operate.
"I feel that the government is willfully making it difficult for traders like me to apply for work permits for our staff.
"I can pay for the permits but my applications keep getting rejected, leaving me with workers without permits and a compound to pay," he said.
On Feb 17, 21 foreign workers and customers were hauled up during a routine Immigration Department check at his stall.
"I only have a few workers left. How will I generate income (to pay the compound)? Why doesn't the Immigration Department make it easier to secure permits for workers?" he asked.
He also called for action against the agents who cheated him and for his workers to be released, so he can again try to secure work permits for them.
"Arrest those who cheat and give these foreign workers a chance to obtain work permits," Pang said.
