ONLY 1,088 illegal foreign workers have registered for the Rehiring and Placement Programme, far short of the 50,000-worker target, said Sabah Immigration Department director Musa Sulaiman.

He said workers had until tomorrow to register and there would be no extension despite the poor response.

“The Rehiring and Placement Programme has been held for six months, from February 15 until tomorrow.

“The highest number of workers who have registered are those from east coast areas, mainly in the plantation sector.

“Employers have until tomorrow to register their workers.”

The scheme, with a newly revised age limit of 60 years old, is open only to Indonesian and Filipino workers who do not have criminal records.

Registration is being done by state government-appointed company Syarikat Intipadu Technology Sdn Bhd.

“The Sabah government has also increased the tenure service, from the maximum 10 years, with a renewal option for every five years, to 15 years,” said Musa.

An officer from Syarikat Intipadu Technology said the number of illegal workers turning up at the office was “unusual” today.

“But, this is normal. Sabahans love to do things last-minute,” he said, adding that many of the workers were unaware of tomorrow’s deadline.

“I’m not sure… We thought the deadline was today.”

Syarikat Intipadu Technology charges employers RM1,200 for each worker, with an additional RM500 compound per worker.

A worker is charged a compound of RM300, with an additional RM100 for a special pass, plus a RM500 visa for those who entered Sabah using a social visit pass, as well as a levy sum, depending on the sector in which they are hired.

Only five sectors are included in the programme in the state, namely agriculture, plantation, construction, manufacturing and services.

The agriculture sector includes quarry, nursery, gardening, livestock husbandry and fishery activities, while the services sector includes restaurants, workshops, laundromats and hardware shops, among others.

Musa said 2,738 illegals had been arrested, and 60 employers would be tried in court for harbouring and hiring the former, following the department’s 793 operations and screening of 23,563 people from January 1 to July 31. – August 14, 2017.