There have been a huge number of illegal migrant workers sneaking into Malaysia each year and Malaysian has been seeking for an effective measure to push them out of the country. On 20 May 2011, Malaysian government approved the Illegal Workers Management Program and assigned Ministry of Interior to convene a meeting to inform agencies concerned about the program. Illegal foreign workers have the following 2 options to choose.
1) Amnesty: illegal workers will be given an opportunity to return to their country of origin by making a registration with Malaysian government. The government will arrange a certain period of time workers can depart the country. If they leave the country within this period of time, they will not be punished under Malaysian law. But if they fail to make a registration or fail to leave the country before the given period of time, they will be punished under the Malaysian law.
2) Regularization: the Malaysian government will set up an ad hoc center for illegal foreign workers to submit application for permit. They will be given certain period of time to submit their application and only be allowed to work specific work areas (the areas have not yet been specified but they are expected to be in cultivation, agricultural, construction, service, and industrial sectors).
Regarding the procedures, illegal foreign workers have to register, undergo finger-print scan, and make a personal record before they are allowed to choose their option. Workers who are granted amnesty will not be allowed to enter Malaysia again. Embassies/consular offices of several countries will hold leading role in spreading the message to their national workers and preparing necessary documents needed by workers for departure.
At present, Malaysia’s government is informing agencies concerned about the plan and hearing their opinions. Office of Labour Affairs in Malaysia will provide further update on the situation once the time period for the implementation of the program is determined.
