Malaysia has assured Nepal that it would begin issuing new working visas to Nepali migrants soon after legalizing all illegal foreign workers.

At a meeting with Nepali officials at Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, Human Resource Minister of Malaysia Dr Subramaniam Sathasivam allayed Nepal´s fear about Malaysian government´s possible action against migrant workers. 

“It is not our official decision to downsize the volume of Nepali workers,” Dr Rishi Raj Adhikari, Nepal´s ambassador to Malaysia, quoted Dr Subramaniam as telling Nepali officials. “We will soon issue more working visas.”

Malaysia´s Immigration Department has not approved of new visas for foreign workers, including Nepali migrants, since August. According to Kumud Khanal, general secretary of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), Malaysia has issued only “replacement visas” in recent months.

“In the last few months, Malaysia has been issuing working visas only to replace foreign workers who return homes,” Khanal said. “It is like if one worker returns, Malaysia issues just one visa, not more.”

In a few exceptional cases, some employer companies have obtained new visas, too, in this period. However, Khanal says, it depends on what sort of connection an employer company has with the Malaysian immigration authorities.

No penalty for illegal workers

According to Dr Adhikari, Malaysian Minister Dr Subramaniam, accompanied by senior officials of concerned ministries during Thursday´s meeting, also assured Nepali officials that it would not take legal actions against illegal workers who will come into “a legal structure” within a certain timeframe.

Malaysia, according to Dr Subramaniam, is reviewing its human resource policy to wipe out all illegal workers. “In near future, we will officially ask all Malaysian employer companies to get all illegal workers registered with the government agencies,” he told Nepali officials, adding. “Those illegal workers who will get registered will be spared.”

Nepali foreign employment agencies say about 500,000 Nepali migrants are currently working in Malaysia. However, of them, only some 270,000 are working legally. “Although there is no official data, 40 percent of Nepali workers are illegal,” Khanal said. “They are hiding from the Malaysian police.”

According to Khanal, many Nepali workers change their employer companies, shunning their legal status in Malaysia. Some Nepali workers are overstaying their visas, too.

“Nepali illegal workers should use this opportunity,” he said.

Earlier, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had announced amnesties for illegal migrant workers. However, unlike in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, illegal workers in Malaysia will not have to return home to evade penalties. “Perhaps, they will have to pay just a minimal amount of money,” Dr Adhikari told Republica. “They will be able to continue with their work after renewing their visas.”

Published on: 1 April 2011 | Republica