This comes amid calls from employers to be given more time to comply with requirements under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) as many companies are still recovering from the pandemic.

At a press conference today, Saravanan said, however, employers must still work towards complying with the law.

“Even though we give them room, they (employers) must start (preparing) from now. Don’t wait until we start enforcing (the law) in December to start building homes (for the workers).”

Recently, the Malaysian Employers Federation asked for one to three years more to fulfil the requirements, saying companies were given limited time to comply with Act 446 when it was enforced on Sept 1 last year.

Meanwhile, home minister Hamzah Zainudin who was also at the press conference, said the government will extend the temporary work pass for foreign workers in the plantation sector.

However, this one-year extension will only apply to pass holders who are nearing the end of their 13th year.

Hamzah said this was necessary as the plantations sector had suffered over RM10 billion in losses because of the lack of workers during the pandemic.

Separately, Hamzah said the recalibration programme for illegal immigrants will be opened up to four more sectors, namely restaurants, cargo, wholesale and retail, and cleaning.

The recalibration programme will also be expanded to include legal foreign workers who did not complete their application for the government’s rehiring programme, as well as undocumented migrants who have not been reported by their employers.

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