Malaysia needs to make a firm stand on illegal workers - once and for all

MALAYSIA is once again conducting raids against illegal foreign workers. And once again, business leaders are asking for more time to get their labour affairs in order.

This time, Malaysia's Immigration Department is targeting those who have failed to obtain their Enforcement Cards (E-Cards). The E-card allows continued employment for these illegal workers and replaces valid travel documents from their home countries. The card will be valid until February 15 next year, when presumably these people can become fully documented workers.

In February, Malaysia announced what was effectively a partial amnesty for foreign illegal workers: they could change their status by registering their presence with the department and obtaining an E-card. Only about 155,000 of the estimated 600,000 to one million illegally employed foreign workers availed themselves to the offer before the amnesty ended on June 30. Many of those picked up during the current raids claim they were not aware of the amnesty or the deadline.