KUALA LUMPUR: The 'Rehiring Programme' involving illegal foreign workers will be implemented online from tomorrow until Dec 31.
The Home Ministry in a statement today said the programme, aimed at giving an opportunity to foreigners working illegally in the country, and involving the issuance of valid work permits to meet labour demands in specific sectors, would be done after a tight screening process.
“The government will set tight conditions on the illegal immigrants and employers who want to participate in this programme. Those who do not qualify will be deported according to existing procedures so as to reduce their numbers in the country,” the ministry said.
According to the ministry, the programme, which was specially drawn up to meet the requests of employers to fill vacancies in the permitted sectors, would also enable the government to determine how many illegal foreign workers were in the country for the purposes of monitoring and security.
The programme would be evaluated in the first three months, from the aspects of effectiveness including the element of value which would have to be updated towards ensuring the smooth running of the programme for the rest of its duration.
The ministry said the Rehiring Programme would be done in a careful and controlled manner so that there would be no cheating by irresponsible individuals trying to take advantage of the situation.
“Any employer found employing illegal foreign workers not registered under the programme will face stern action,” it said.
The ministry said among the main criteria were that the foreign worker concerned must have entered the country legally, have an employer and must not have a criminal record.
”Apart from these, the programme only covers the permitted sectors and not sectors not under the policy dealing with employment of foreign workers or sectors frozen by the government,” the ministry added.
Application can be done at the ministry’s portal www.rehiring.imi.gov.my, which also spells out in detail the conditions.
Queries can be directed to the Malaysian Immigration Department’s Operations Room all days of the week from 8.30am to 11pm at 03 - 8880 1555. -- Bernama