THERE will soon be another round of amnesty for illegal foreign workers in this country, by which they may be repatriated without being penalised. All sectors apparently agree this is the most realistic option in the circumstances.

Neither incarcerating them at taxpayers’ expense nor allowing them to continue working unlawfully is acceptable. But have repeated amnesties now become routine, something to be taken for granted?

PETALING JAYA: Various organisations are against the Government's move to increase the levy on foreign workers, arguing that the extra costs will only be passed on to consumers.

Real Estate and Housing Developers Association president Datuk Ng Seing Liong said it was not the right time to increase the levy as developers were in the midst of adopting the Industrial Building System (IBS).

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- The government's proposal to hike foreign levies is seen as burdensome with employers' organisations saying the move make the country less competitive.

Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said MEF did not agree with the proposal because it will cause employers to shoulder higher costs.

PUTRAJAYA: The government plans to increase the levy on foreign workers according to the job sectors from early next year in a bid to reduce the country's dependence on foreign labour.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the levy would defer according to the foreign workers' skills level and the number of workers in a sector.

T.K. LETCHUMY TAMBOO

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will take action against employers who retain their foreign employees in the country even after their visas have expired, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.

Employers should either apply to extend the visas before expiry or send their foreign workers back to their home countries, he said in a statement.

Dr Subramaniam also expressed shock at claims by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) that more than 150,000 foreign workers employed in restaurants and coffeeshops were not able to return home when their visas expired because their employers were holding on to their passports. Stating that the number of foreign workers involved in this case, as claimed by MTUC, was huge, he added: "I urge the MTUC to furnish the Labour Department with details.