Employers told to act swiftly before Sept 30 deadline

KUCHING: Employers must ensure that all undocumented foreign workers (PATI) enrolled in the Labour Recalibration Programme (RTK) 2.0 obtain valid work permits within the given timeframe to maintain safety and order in Sarawak.

Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration, and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala urged employers to act swiftly as the deadline for verifying PATI is fast approaching on September 30 with no extensions to be granted.

“Employers must personally bring the PATI to the nearest Immigration Department office to complete the verification process according to current procedures,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

The registration period via the Malaysian Immigration Department portal ended on June 30, and employers are no longer allowed to register undocumented foreign workers under their supervision.

Employers who have completed the verification process are also reminded to apply for the Approval in Principle (AP) letter and the Non-Resident Employment License from the Sarawak Department of Labour, as these documents are mandatory before applying for the Temporary Employment Visit Pass from the Malaysian Immigration Department.

The deadline to acquire the Temporary Employment Visit Pass is December 31, 2024. After this date, employers will no longer be able to obtain the pass for undocumented foreign workers from the Immigration Department.

The Sarawak government launched the Labour Recalibration Programme (RTK) 2.0 on July 22, 2023, through the Malaysian Immigration Department, in collaboration with the Department of Labour and other government agencies, with direct involvement from employers.