Saifuddin Nasution says no plans to reduce RM1,500 fee for undocumented migrant workers
PUTRAJAYA, Jan 27 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today the RM1,500 fee for undocumented migrant workers charged to employers will not be reduced.
Saifuddin Nasution said that after conferring with the relevant agencies he is confident the fee will not cause any major disruptions to the supply chain.
The fee was set under the government’s undocumented migrants recalibration programme to regularise these migrants as foreign workers under eligible employers.
“Immigration informed me that there have been no big issues arising from this and as such we will maintain the status quo.
“If an employer has an undocumented worker who has overstayed then certain charges will be imposed up to a maximum of RM3,100.
“After meeting with the prime minister, we’re ready to facilitate these matters since this sector contributed RM700 million to the government coffers,” Saifuddin Nasution said while delivering his mandate speech at the ministry’s headquarters in Putrajaya.
Earlier this month, Putrajaya reintroduced the labour recalibration programme to help fulfil the demand for foreign workers in the country.
Saifuddin Nasution said the programme which ended on December 31 last year will be continued for another year.
Meanwhile, when pressed for updates on the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 Saifuddin said he is still engaging with the stakeholders.
“A series of meetings and engagements have been held with the stakeholders. What’s important is the outcome of the meetings.
“The last announcement was made by my colleague deputy minister (for Law) Ramkarpal Singh and we are committed to engage with civil societies as well as distinguished individuals who are involved in this,” he added.
Saifuddin Nasution also said he would not interfere with investigations into two political aides from Pakatan Harapan (PH).
He said he would let the police conduct their investigations as they see fit.
Noor Suhana Ishak, who is the aide to DAP’s Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman, was summoned to the Sentul police station, while Economic Affairs Minister Rafizi Ramli’s press secretary Farhan Iqbal was summoned to the Putrajaya police station.
Both of them have been called up by the police in connection with an investigation into a Twitter post that alleged Umno Youth’s involvement in disrupting a ceramah by Muda in October 2022.
