The Malaysian government’s decision to raise the penalty amount in its ongoing crackdown on illegal migrant workers is likely to add to the woes of an estimated 40,000 Nepali s staying ‘illegally’ in the country. 

Malaysia has recently raised the fine for violating immigration policy from 400 Malaysian ringgit to a maximum of 3,100 ringgit (NRs 97,500) depending on the length of overstay. Those facing deportation have to first pay the fine in order to get the exit permit.

Since the beginning of its “biggest-ever’’ crackdown on illegal immigrants in early September, the Malaysian authorities have sent at least 900 Nepali s to detention centres. An official at the Nepali Embassy in Malaysia said most workers are languishing in the detention centres as they are unable to pay the fines. “Earlier a deportee had to pay 400 ringgit in fine irrespective of the length of illegal stay. Now the fine ranges from a minimum of 500 ringgit up to 3,100 ringgit depending on the length of stay,” said Amal Kiran Dhakal, labour attaché at the Nepali mission in Malaysia.

The Nepali mission in Kuala Lumpur said it has started a diplomatic process to facilitate the repatriation of the arrested Nepali workers. The mission, at the behest of the Foreign Ministry, has written to the Malaysian government to cut down the penalty to payable amount.

“Most of our workers are unskilled and low-wage earners. The revised fine exceeds five months’ salary of the workers. We have been asking the Malaysian government to cut it down to an affordable amount,” said the embassy official, adding that the embassy had asked the line ministry to use diplomatic channels to address the issue. Officials, however, said the government would not pay the penalty as the actual amount could exceed billions of rupees if all the illegal Nepali workers get arrested in the country’s biggest work destination. Of an estimated 650,000 Nepali s currently working in Malaysia, around 40,000 are staying there without valid documents.

Meanwhile, the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) said many absconding workers are coming into contact with their former employers to avoid the risk of being penalised, while others are returning home. Kumud Khanal, former second secretary of the NAFEA, said hundreds of Nepali s have been sent to the deportation centres in the last few months. 

Published on: 22 September 2013 | The Kathmandu Post