Illegal workers in Malaysia allowed to legalise status

Kathmandu March 3- Nepali migrant workers staying illegally in Malaysia will have to pay Rs135,000 to legalise their status. According to the Rehiring and Allocation Integration Programme launched by the Malaysian government on February 15, a worker has to pay Rs111,000 (4,185 ringgit) for registration costs 800 ringgit, administrative service 400 ringgit, temporary labour approval 60 ringgit and processing 125 ringgit. There is a fine of 300 ringgit and an annual levy of 2,500 ringgit for those involved in service, production and construction. 

Illegal workers also have to pay for new Nepali passports and renewal of passports. It costs 620 ringgit for a worker to obtain a new passport and 310 ringgit to renew an existing passport, according to the Nepal Embassy in Malaysia. Illegal workers have to spend a total of Rs135,000 on paperwork at the Malaysian authorities and the Nepal Embassy.

Likewise, Malaysian companies employing illegal foreign workers have to pay 500 ringgit to their government. Employers and stakeholders have urged the Malaysian government to reconsider the fees that workers have to pay to convert their illegal status. However, the government has rejected their plea and asked employers to register illegal workers without delay.