PUTRAJAYA: The government today has agreed to extend the Labour Recalibration Programme 2.0 until the end of this year, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the decision to extend the programme from last year was made during the foreign workers management special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.
Saifuddin said the programme was meant for foreign workers who were already in the country and did not possess full documents.
He said they could either pay the compound and continue working or opt to return to their country of origin.
"We find that this programme can provide work opportunities to foreign workers who are already here to serve in the seven main labour sectors, which includes domestic workers," he said at a press conference at Perdana Putra today.
Also present was Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar.
Saifuddin added that the 1st edition of the programme which ended on Dec 31 last year, registered 418,649 foreign illegal workers while there were 295,425 who opted to return home.
Saifuddin said the government generated a revenue of RM700 million from compounds paid by the foreign illegal workers last year.
"The differences between the programme this year and last year is the stipulated conditions are more flexible without compromising the nation's security elements," he said.