The ministry’s secretary-general, Alwi Ibrahim, said 8,100 applications were Indonesians, 178 from Myanmar citizens and 140 from those of other nationalities.

Under the Rehiring Programme, those who qualify would be granted proper papers to continue working while others would be deported.

The migrant work force in Malaysia are from 15 source countries.

He said the ministry had directed the Immigration Department to improve enforcement action to ensure that all migrant workers in the country had documents and work permits.

Legal and enforcement action will also be taken against foreign workers involved in sectors that did not permit the employment of foreign workers.

Alwi said the government wanted to encourage employers to use the Rehiring Programme, which started on Feb 15, as further recruitment of all foreign workers has been suspended.

He said in a statement today that the suspension would remain in force until the government was satisfied about the need for foreign workers in Malaysia’s industries.

“The government also suspended the establishment of two categories of levy payments while providing ample opportunities to the local people to work in sectors dominated by foreign workers,” he said.

He said the Immigration department began their enforcement operations on Friday with 2,125 foreigners inspected of whom 971 were arrested for various immigration offences.

-BERNAMA