In Malaysia, more than 90% of foreign workers have not provided regulatory-compliant housing

Saravanan said only 143,587 foreign workers, or 8.83 percent of the 1.6 million foreign workers in Malaysia as of Oct 31, had received applications for accommodation certificates from the government.

(C) Capitalpostmy / Twitter

KUALA LUMPUR: Accommodation that complies with the provisions of the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 or Act 446 is not provided to about 91.1 percent or 1.4 million foreign workers in Malaysia, said Malaysian Minister of Human Resources M Saravanan on Thursday (Dec 3).

Saravanan said he found “very worrying” statistics, particularly with the current COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that only 143,587 foreign workers, or 8.83 percent of the 1.6 million foreign workers in Malaysia as of Oct 31, had received applications for accommodation certificates from the government.

Saravanan, who spoke to reporters at a press conference on Thursday, said This situation clearly shows that employers and providers of centralized accommodation for 1.4 million foreign workers in Malaysia still do not apply for a certificate from the Department of Manpower Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM).

Also present was Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Pekerja asing tidak dibenarkan datang ke Malaysia selagi majikan tidak mendapat perakuan dan kelulusan dari segi penginapan untuk pekerja ini. pic.twitter.com/y9CDCnZIzT

— Ismail Sabri (@IsmailSabri60) December 3, 2020

Saravanan said enforcement would be carried out and action against errant employers would also be taken.

Since the) enforcement of Act 446 last Sep 1, 1, 1,850 inspections were carried out by JKTSM involving 1,813 employers and 37 centralized providers of accommodation throughout the Labuan Peninsula and Federal Territory.’

“JTKSM is targeting 25,000 inspections by 2021,” he said.

Ismail Sabri, who is also chairman of the Foreign Workers Cabinet Committee, said the accommodation certificate would be a prerequisite for employers planning to hire new foreign workers as of 1 July 2021.

The employer must obtain a certificate from the Ministry of Human Resources to enable the Malaysian Immigration Department to issue a visa before the employer makes an application to bring in foreign workers.

“This means that employers are required to make available accommodation that complies with Act 4467 before foreign workers arrive in the country. Otherwise, foreign workers are (considered) illegal immigrants,” said Ismail Sabri.