PETALING JAYA: The government will implement a plan to “regularlise” undocumented migrant workers so they they can become legalised foreign workers subject to certain conditions.
Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said that under the programme, known as the Undocumented Migrant Recalibration Plan, undocumented migrants will also be allowed to return home voluntarily.
He said the plan, to come into effect from Monday until June 30, 2021, is to address the undocumented migrants issue.
“This plan will be implemented by the Immigration Department and the Department of Labour of Peninsular Malaysia and other government agencies without the involvement of third parties and vendors,” he said at a press conference today.
So, Hamzah said, all undocumented migrants and employers who wish to take part in the programme must deal directly with the two departments.
“For the time being, only employers operating in four ‘dangerous, difficult and dirty’ (3D) sectors will be allowed to take in undocumented migrants as workers during the implementation of the recalibration plan,” he said.
These are the construction, manufacturing, plantations and agriculture sectors.
But he stressed that the opening of these jobs to undocumented migrants should not affect the job market and opportunities for Malaysians.
He also said it will not cost the government any additional money as it was being implemented by government agencies.
In fact, he said, the government is expected to earn about RM95 million from compounds and other charges imposed on the 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 authorities’ enforcement efforts.
He said the home ministry will be engaging embassies, high commissions and industry players to provide more details on the plan.
With the plan, he said, the freeze on the intake of new workers will remain, and after June 30, 2021, the Immigration Department will go all-out to enforce the laws on undocumented migrants.