DBKL socio-economic development executive director Mohd Saufi Muhammad said the two agencies had set up a joint task force to tackle the issue.

“Illegal workers are giving the city a bad image socially and economically. Because of the influx of illegal workers, DBKL has been seen as weak in carrying out enforcement and been accused of allowing it to happen.

“This task force will be coming down hard on the illegal workers,” he said during a dialogue session with the Immigration Department and traders today.

Saufi said as of October, DBKL has identified 7,400 illegal foreign workers.

“We will be taking action against the employers and we will revoke their (business) licences.”

Since 2012, DBKL has confiscated the goods of 23,553 illegal workers.

It has also revoked the business licences of 544 locals who had hired the illegal workers.

DBKL has identified several locations in the city where illegal workers are known to ply their trade.

Among these areas are Jalan Silang, Lebuh Pudu, Jalan Chow Kit, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Bukit Bintang.