Govt eases labour recalibration plan terms, raises age limit for undocumented workers to 49

PETALING JAYA: Several conditions for the Labour Recalibration Plan have been relaxed, says the Immigration Department.

Its director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud (pic) said the relaxed conditions were set following joint meetings with the Home Ministry and Human Resources Ministry.

"Seventy percent of the approval quota will be (taken) from the total (number) verified by the enforcement division, while 30% will be subject to decisions by the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia.

"Approvals for employers to join the programme within the construction, agriculture, industrial, trade and service sectors, including their sub-sectors, have been expanded to include other approved sectors.

"The conditions for eligible illegal immigrants have also been expanded to include holders of expired long-term visit passes," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 23).

The age limit for eligible undocumented workers has also been extended to 49.

New employers may apply online at the department website to join the programme.

"The department would like to remind all that no third parties or agents have been elected to manage this programme.

"All employers are urged to deal directly with the department," he said.

The Labour recalibration programme was implemented to allow employers in certain sectors such as construction, manufacturing, plantation, agriculture and services to legally employ undocumented foreign workers.

The Repatriation recalibration programme, on the other hand, is to allow undocumented immigrants to volunteer to return to their respective home countries.