PUTRAJAYA: After providing critical areas of the economy with more than half a million foreign workers, the second Labour Recalibration Programme (RTK 2.0) will end on Dec 31, said Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Under RTK 2.0, about 518,000 undocumented migrants were issued new work permits and channelled into the manufacturing, construction, farming, agriculture and services sectors, said the Home Minister.
“The programme had provided the sectors with the workers needed to jump start the economy post-Covid-19 pandemic,” Saifuddin said after attending the ministry’s monthly assembly yesterday.
“Employers who intend to make hirings under the programme still have two months to register their foreign workers. After Dec 31, we will no longer take in fresh registrations.
“After this period, we will continue with the process of verifying the workers and issuing work permits.”
The RTK was implemented to allow employers in these sectors to legally employ undocumented foreign workers.
Saifuddin said the ministry has, to date, registered 700,000 foreign workers who are already in the country but whose work permits and documents have expired.
RTK 1.0, which ran from November 2020 to Dec 31 last year, saw 418,649 undocumented migrants registered, involving 30,137 employers.
The government had also come up with another programme – the repatriation and recalibration programme which ended last year.
Under this programme, undocumented immigrants could volunteer to return to their countries of origin, and 295,425 individuals took up the offer.
On another matter, Saifuddin said at the top of the ministry’s Budget 2024 wish list were funds to set up more temporary shelters to house children detained in Immigration Department operations.
He said the aim was to provide such shelters in Sabah and Sarawak, and another on the peninsula.
Such a centre is already in operation in Nilai, known as Baitul Mahabbah.
There are 19 immigration depots nationwide, housing 12,000 detainees, of whom 1,400 are children.
“During my recent visit to the United States, US authorities and UN bodies commended us for this effort.
“The Prime Minister has also asked for this (opening of centres) to be a priority for the ministry,” he said, adding that the estimated cost to open three shelters is RM10mil.
