Application for Foreign Workers’ Permit Extension Opens on Dec 20

According to Immigration Director-General Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud, applications for the extension of Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) for undocumented migrants under the Rehiring Programme will open starting December 20.

He stated that the government decided on November 19 to extend the employment period of PLKS holders under the Rehiring Programme on a year-to-year basis up to a maximum of five years, depending on employer needs.

He explained that the PLKS was for five years under the Rehiring Programme, and as the programme began in 2016, the PLKS will expire in phases starting this year until 2024.

"To ensure that employers will not face labour shortages especially in the 3D (dirty, difficult and dangerous) employment sector, the government has decided to extend the PLKS holders' employment period under the Rehiring Programme year by year up to a maximum of five years," he said.

The Rehiring Program is a government effort that aims to provide undocumented migrants working in Malaysia with a valid PLKS for a maximum term of five years to meet the workforce needs of the allowed sectors.

According to Khairul Dzaimee, the Immigration Department had 185,577 active PLKS under the programme as of November 30.

Employees and employers must not violate pass requirements issued for the programme's employment period in order to apply for an extension.

Employees who have been blacklisted are not eligible to apply for an extension. They are not allowed to move employers or sectors unless the Home Ministry gives them special approval.

"Only employers and authorised employer representatives are permitted to submit PLKS extension applications, which must be submitted electronically via ePLKS@JIM or MyEG," he explained.

Khairul Dzaimee added that the PLKS extension was subject to existing procedures for the employment of foreign workers.

About PLKS

These are the approved sectors for foreign workers under PLKS: 

1. Manufacturing,

2. Plantation,

3. Agriculture,

4. Construction,

5. Services.

As of December 31 last year, there were 1.4 million foreign workers in Malaysia with active Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS). Employers who failed to comply with the stipulated policies would be prosecuted under the Immigration Act and Regulations.

Employers must renew their foreign workers' PLKS annually and pay a levy according to the employment sector. The PLKS period has been set for 10 years and employers are given a choice to continue for another three years with a higher levy rate.

Please visit the Immigration Department's website at www.imi.gov.my for further information on the PLKS workers' employment period under the Rehiring Program.

Source: BERNAMA