KUALA LUMPUR, 14 November 2020, (TON): On Thursday, Datuk Seri Hamzah Bin Zainuddin, Home Minister of Malaysia, has announced the recalibration plan for the undocumented migrants stayed in Malaysia. The Malaysian government has offered foreign workers this opportunity under certain conditions.

According to the Home Minister, the Malaysian Immigrant Department and Labor Department with other government bodies will work together to implement this legalization process of illegal migrants. There has no agent for this. This legalization process will start from 16th November this year and remain until 30 June 2021. HealsosaidthattheIllegalimmigrantRecalibrationPlanhastwo-part.Oneistherepatriationplaninwhichanyworkerscangobackhomevoluntarily.AnotherisalaborrecalibrationplanthatwillofferillegalmigrantstoworkwithdocumentationinMalaysia. The government has selected four sectors like construction, manufacturing, plantation, and agriculture for the legalization of illegal workers.

The government also considers local workers to give them the priority for employment. It assures that foreign workers will not threat by local workers. It will fill up its vacancy first from the local workers. A large number of migrants work in the second class job sector where the environment of the workplaces is dangerous, difficult, and dirty.

In this context, the Bangladesh government also have discussed solving the Bangladeshi illegal migrant problem. Md. Shahidul Islam, the Former High Commissioner of Bangladesh, talked with the Malaysian government to consider legitimating the excluded and deceived illegal workers of Bangladesh.

There are nearly 20 million to 30 million undocumented migrants stayed in Malaysia from a different place of the world. They lead a miserable life there. They are jobless, and some take shelter in the jungle. Now the announcement of the Malaysian government to give legitimacy to the illegal migrants is the sign of the end of the tragic life of undocumented migrants. The migrant workers are hopeful to hear the news.

The Malaysian government's such a step for the illegal migrants for legalization is appreciated during the COVID-19 pandemic.