On 20 August 2011, Malaysia’s Home Ministry has extended a deadline for the registration of illegal migrant workers under the government’s amnesty 6p program – which are carried out during 1-21 August 2011, once again to 31 August. The three-week program aims to give an opportunity for illegal migrant workers in Malaysia to legalize their employment or legally return to their county.
According to the Home Ministry, a total of 1,135,499 illegal migrant workers have been registered with 198 Malaysian Immigration Offices throughout Peninsular Malaysia (the registration process is free of charge at the office) and with 336 management companies across the country (300 ringgits is charged for the registration process handled by the company). Nevertheless, the government expects some 1.8 million illegal migrant workers still have not been registered; therefore, announced to extend the deadline of the registration process.
Office of Labour Affairs in Malaysia would like to note that employer status is an critical factor that determine whether a documented worker will be allowed to work in Malaysia; in other words, an employer must run a legal business and has a company registration certificate, business license, and safe and appropriate workplace or factory; and employ legal proportion of local to migrant workers based on the size of his business etc.
Workers, who are registered with the Home Ministry, are yet required to pay anything for employer or broker — except for the service payment for the registration process if they register with the management company – until they receive a letter of approval from the Malaysian authority allowing them to work in the country.
