EMPLOYERS who lure foreign workers with the promise of nonexistent jobs in Pengerang, Johor, would be blacklisted and barred from business activities, including from renewing temporary employment visit passes for their current workers at the Immigration Department, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said in a joint statement today.

They said employers would be blacklisted from applying for new foreign workers under section 60K of the Employment Act 1955.

The quota for hiring foreign workers and conditional approval letters issued to these employers for levies would also be cancelled.

Both ministers said action would be taken based on the Immigration Act 1959/1963, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, the Employment Act 1955, as well as the Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation, and Amenities for Employees Act 1990.

They said inspections and audits would be conducted on any employer that brought in workers through the Foreign Workers Employment Flexibility Plan.

“These actions are taken to ensure employers fulfil their responsibilities towards foreign workers.

“The Home Ministry and Human Resources Ministry take this matter seriously and will not compromise with any party in cases of foreign worker exploitation leading to forced labour and human trafficking.”

The joint statement was issued following a meeting between the two ministers on Wednesday to discuss policies and operations related to foreign workers in Malaysia.

Both ministers said the meeting was held to find solutions to cases of neglect and exploitation of foreign workers and to formulate improvements in the management of foreign workers to ensure these issues were addressed holistically.

Several short- and long-term measures, including amending existing acts and policies, would be implemented promptly to strengthen the management of foreign workers with a focus on the rights and welfare of workers, they said.

The ministers announced a special meeting between them would be held on January 16 to discuss issues related to foreign workers before submitting a proposal to the cabinet over the freezing of foreign worker quota applications and steps to improve the governance of foreign worker employment in the country. – Bernama, January 6, 2024.