PUTRAJAYA has agreed to continue implementing the undocumented migrant recalibration programme until the end of this year Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today. 

The home affairs minister gave the assurance that although the extended programme was more flexible, it would not put the country’s safety at stake. 

“Until December 31, 2022, a total of 418,649 undocumented migrants registered for the programme to become legal foreign workers.  

“During the same period, a total of 295,425 undocumented migrants were sent back to their home countries under the programme,” Saifuddin told the press today.

Saifuddin’s press conference came after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim chaired a special meeting on the management of foreign workers in Malaysia.  

Furthermore, he said that Putrajaya would create a special plan to meet demands by the sectors requiring foreign labour.   

He added that this would enable employers to hire workers from 15 countries without the hassle of much bureaucracy.  

“(The government) will create a special plan driven by the projection of foreign labour needs required by the sectors employing foreign workers in Malaysia. This plan is called the Foreign Worker Employment Relaxation Plan.  

“Through this plan, employers will be allowed to employ foreign workers from 15 source countries based on the employer’s actual ability and needs without having to go through the prerequisites of employment eligibility and quota eligibility,” Saifuddin said.  

He added that further deals on the government’s plan would be disclosed by the ministry soon.  

He also said a Malaysian delegation would carry out work visits to selected source countries with the aim of discussing the safety and welfare of foreign workers in Malaysia.  

Last week, Saifuddin said that foreign worker management in Malaysia would now come under the home affairs ministry. – January 10, 2023.