Johor immigration nab illegal workers in restaurant raids, 27 detained

JOHOR BARU: The Johor Immigration Department arrested 27 foreigners during an operation to curb illegal employment activities at several food outlets here.
The operation on Friday (May 8) involved checks on five eateries following complaints from the public and intelligence reports of undocumented foreign workers working at local establishments.

Johor Immigration director Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said some employers were still recruiting and harbouring foreign workers without valid travel documents or legal work permits.

Among those arrested were 24 Myanmar nationals, one Bangladeshi, one Pakistani and one Nepalese citizen, aged between 19 and 46. Early investigation revealed that most of the people were employed as cooks and restaurant waiters.

The detainees are being sent to Setia Tropika Immigration Depot for further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
Immigration officers also served three Form 29 notices on a number of people to assist ongoing investigations.

Mohd Rusdi said the department would continue to take stern action against employers who turned business premises into centres for illegal employment activities, warning that authorities would not compromise with those who flouted immigration laws.