85 foreign women arrested for working as GROs in Kuantan
KUANTAN: The Pahang Immigration Department detained 85 foreign women suspected of working as guest relations officers (GROs) during a raid on six entertainment outlets along Jalan Gambut here early this morning.
Its director Nursafariza Ihsan said 14 foreign men working as waiters at the premises were also detained during the operation, which began at about 1am.
She said the women comprised 81 Thai nationals and four from Laos.
Also detained were 12 Bangladeshi men, along with one man each from Yemen and China.
"They committed various offences, with most of them found to have abused their work permits. Many held permits for the construction and cleaning sectors.
"However, they were working as GROs and waiters at the entertainment outlets," she said when met today.
Nursafariza added that the Immigration Department would summon the six business owners to assist in investigations.
She said all six outlets had previously been raided and action taken, but continued to flout the law.
"A large number of foreigners were arrested, even though inspections are regularly carried out at these entertainment centres.
"It appears the operators are not afraid of the consequences," she said.
All those detained have been taken to the Kemayan Immigration Detention Depot in Bera.
They are being investigated under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 and Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
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