Illegal immigrants in Malaysia can soon work legally in the country

The Malaysian government will be launching a dedicated programme targeted at illegal immigrants to gain lawful employment in the country from Nov 16 till June 30 next year. 

Called the Illegal Immigrant Recalibration Plan, it will allow illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin voluntarily under specific conditions, as well as regularise illegal immigrants in the country as foreign workers who could be employed legally by employers. 

However, legal employment status will be subject to stringent conditions determined by the government through the Immigration Department and the Peninsular Malaysia Labour Department, said Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin at the unveiling of the programme. 

Under the plan, employers in four sectors – construction, manufacturing, plantation and agriculture – would be allowed to hire the immigrants. This would also only apply to workers who hail from 15 countries, which includes Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

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“In the uncertain economic landscape due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the government would be carrying out strategic assessment on the plan by evaluating the positive and negative effects of its implementation,” he added. 

He further assured citizens that such a programme would not threaten the local job market.