SEREMBAN, MALAYSIA - The state Immigration Department has reminded employers against using the services of private employment agencies or individual agents in hiring foreign workers, with the exception of maids.

Its enforcement deputy director, Rusli Mohktar, said employers should apply work permits for foreign workers directly from the government agencies.

He added that any application done through an agent or middleman was not allowed, and would be rejected.

"There have been many cases where employers who use agents to hire foreign workers end up with the agents cheating them or the workers.

"As a result, many of the workers lose their passports and money to these unscrupulous agents," Rusli said at his office in Wisma Persekutuan here on Friday.

Rusli said the department made a total of 1,099 arrests from 254 raids in the state between January and July 24.

Of the number, 38 cases involved errant employers.

He said it was the responsibility of the employers to obtain permits for their workers.

"Under Section 55B of the Immigration Act, employers who employ five illegal immigrants or less could be fined between RM10,000 and RM50,000.

"They are also liable to be sentenced to a jail-term of up to 12 months, or both.

"For those employing six or more illegal immigrants could be sentenced to a jail-term of between six months and five years, and subjected to a maximum of six strokes of the cane," Rusli said.