New E-kad to enable legalisation of foreign workers, says Immigration Dept

SHAH ALAM: Illegal foreign workers with valid employers can come forward to register and legalise their employment under the Immigration Department's E-kad (enforcement card) programme.

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali (pic) said the government made the decision to legalise the employment of foreign workers following high demands from several sectors.

"The registration will be available from Feb 15 at all of our offices in the peninsula and state Immigration departments," he told a press conference after visiting its Shah Alam headquarters at Kompleks PKNS Shah Alam, on Tuesday.

Registration for the E-kad will be free and it will be valid for a period of one year.

Only five sectors have been approved for the programme, namely, the plantation, agriculture, industrial, construction and services, said Mustafar.

He added that employers can apply for the E-kad between the period of Feb 15 until June 30.

"There will be no extension beyond June 30 and we are firm on this.

"During the one-year period, employers are adviced to apply for their worker's passport and permits from their respective embassies," he said.

He also warned employers not to apply to register their foreign workers through any middlemen or agents.

"The employers have to register their foreign workers with the necessary documentations and it will take two days to process," he said.

He estimated that between 400,000 to 600,000 foreign workers will turn up to register under the programme.