Employment of foreign workers under 6P programme extended

PUTRAJAYA: The government has extended the employment of foreign workers under the 6P programme by another year effective immediately, said Home Ministry acting secretary-general Datuk Alwi Ibrahim.
This applies to employees with Temporary Social Visit Passes (PLKS) that are active and still employed legally.
He said the decision will involve 352,493 foreign workers whose employment will end by December 2015.
"Many employers are still dependent on foreign workers under the 6P programme and failed to hire local workers and unwilling to change to operations that are not labour oriented."
He was speaking at a press conference attended by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who received a courtesy call from Indonesian Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri, here today.
The 6P programme legalised 521,734 illegal immigrants who were allowed to work legally for three years (approved sectors), and two years (frozen and outside policy sectors).
Alwi said the decision was made after the government realised the loss of a large workforce would affect large businesses and the national economy.
"The decision is meant for employers who still failed to repatriate foreign workers after the expiry of the employment period."
He said employers keen to continue employing foreign workers may apply for PLKS renewal at state immigration offices.
The employers are required to make human resource planning so that their business operations would not be affected after the workers are sent home.
"There will be no more extension. The government will not compromise with employers who failed to comply with policies," he added. – Bernama