104,000 migrant workers here
By Azlan Othman

Currently there are some 104,000 foreign workers being employed in the country, most, of whom worked in the construction industry, numbering some 70,000. Some 25,000 were employed as housemaids. This was revealed by the Director of Immigration and National Registration Department, Awg Sa Bali Abas during a dialogue session on Thursday with Kg. Lumapas Consultative Council.

Brunei still needs this foreign workforce to carry out the development projects in the country. But it is the country's hope that such jobs could be taken over by locals, which at the same time helps to reduce the level of unemployment in this country.

Meanwhile during the dialogue session, a call has been made by a labour official for employers to look after the local employees well, like in a father and son relationship.

So that these locals would not 'hop-in and hop-out' from one job to another especially in the private sector.

Meanwhile, he also revealed that latest figure that showed until today, some 50 immigration cases were already brought to court with compound fines mounting to some $50,000. Over 100 foreigners have been expelled out of this country.

Immigration enforcement officers with the cooperation of other government agencies carried out relentless efforts to nab foreigners who violated the country's rules and regulations such as overstaying, illegal immigrants, runaway workers who wander around at areas such as bus stations, town areas or those who perform jobs other than stated in the work permit.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin