KUALA LUMPUR – The processing times for foreign worker levy refunds will be shortened, effective today, to introduce more employer and industry-friendly refund policies, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
“The processing time for levy refunds would be reduced from 53 days to 28 days for applications needing approval by the Immigration director-general,” he told a press conference at the ministry today.
“Applications at the Home Ministry secretary-general approval level will be reduced from 77 days to 38 days.
“Employers are allowed to claim a refund of foreign worker levy payments after six months of the Conditional Approval Letter’s validity, with the entire remaining quota surrendered to the government,” Saifuddin said today.
He also said the final date for new foreign workers’ entry into the formal sector with the Visa with Reference (VDR) is May 31. From June 1, no more foreign workers under active quotas will be allowed in.
Employers’ quotas for formal sector foreign workers will be cancelled if the VDR is not issued by March 31.
In the meantime, amnesty for undocumented foreign workers under the Migrant Repatriation Programme commenced today and will be in effect until the end of the year.
Saifuddin urged undocumented foreign workers, estimated to be 600,000 nationwide, to voluntarily return to their home countries and not face Malaysia’s immigration laws.
Foreign workers who entered Malaysia without a valid pass, or who overstayed, will have to pay a RM500 compound, while RM300 must be paid by those who violate any terms of their passes.
“We will not open investigation papers against (the workers). After December, they are considered illegal and we will have to take enforcement action. So, they have ten months to register,” he said.
Saifuddin said the Immigration Department, which supervises the programme, will not entertain applications made through agents or third-party organisations.
As of noon, Saifuddin said 848 foreign workers had registered for the programme. – March 1, 2024