THE Labour Recalibration Programme 2.0 (RTK 2.0) has received positive response as the government engages in its latest amnesty for undocumented migrant workers, TV3 reported today. 

Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said that over the past five days, the agency has received nearly 50,000 applications from employers. 

He said the response surpassed expectations compared to similar previous initiatives.

“In the first five days, we received 47,200 applications for work permits.

“Previously, our record was 265,000 applications and this time we expect a higher number because of the relaxed hiring regulations,” he said on the channel’s morning talk show “Malaysia Hari Ini”. 

Khairul also small business owners to come forward and register their workers. 

“The uncles who own a small oil palm grove or rubber trees and the tom yam restaurant owner, they can also apply to the Immigration Department and we will issue approvals,” he said.

As for the high cost of hiring new domestic workers from Indonesia, Khairul said employers can also register undocumented workers already in Malaysia.

All applications must be submitted online through the Immigration Department website, after which employers will be given a date to bring their workers to the nearest immigration office for verification, with a guaranteed one-day approval.

On January 10, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government will continue RTK 2.0 until the end of the year. 

He said the conditions to register for the programme will be more flexible, though the nation’s security will not be jeopardised.

Saifuddin also advised employers to register their undocumented workers, adding that neither party will be subject to action under immigration laws. – February 2, 2023.