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PETALING JAYA: The government will implement a plan to “regularize” undocumented migrant workers so that they can become legalized foreign workers subject to certain conditions.
Interior Minister Hamzah Zainudin said that under the program, known as the Undocumented Migrants Recalibration Plan, undocumented migrants will also be allowed to return home voluntarily.
He said the plan, which will go into effect from Monday to June 30, 2021, is to address the problem of undocumented migrants.
“This plan will be implemented by the Department of Immigration and the Department of Labor of Peninsular Malaysia and other government agencies without the participation of third parties and suppliers,” he said today at a press conference.
So, Hamzah said that now all migrants and undocumented employers who wish to participate in the program must deal directly with the two departments.
“At the moment, only employers operating in four ‘dangerous, difficult and dirty’ (3D) sectors will be able to accept undocumented immigrants as workers during the implementation of the recalibration plan,” he said.
These are the construction, manufacturing, plantations and agriculture sectors.
But he stressed that opening these jobs to undocumented immigrants should not affect the job market and opportunities for Malaysians.
He also said that it will not cost the government any additional money, as government agencies were implementing it.
In fact, he said, the government is expected to earn around 95 million RM from the complexes and other charges imposed on migrants and employers.
Hamzah said the government’s decision takes into account the need to help certain economic sectors affected by Covid-19 and the enforcement efforts of the authorities.
He said the Interior Ministry will involve embassies, high commissions and industry players to provide more details on the plan.
With the plan, he said, the freeze on the incorporation of new workers will be maintained and, after June 30, 2021, the Department of Immigration will do everything possible to enforce the laws on undocumented immigrants.
