Gerawat: Sarawak taking steps to address issue of unauthorised workers

BINTULU (Oct 3): The Sarawak government is taking serious measures to address reports of unauthorised workers and those without valid work permits from the Immigration Department in the state, said Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala.

He added that the labour supply for the palm oil plantation sector in the state is predominantly made up of Indonesian workers (TKI).

“Earlier this year, the Sarawak government requested an extension for the implementation of the Workforce Recalibration Programme (RTK 2.0) until June 30.

“Additionally, the verification and issuance of Temporary Work Visit passes have been extended until September 30 and December 31, respectively,” he said.

According to Gerawat, a new unit, the Immigration and Labour Management Unit (Ilmu), was established within the Sarawak Premier’s Department on October 1, 2021, by absorbing existing staff from the Administration Unit.

Previously known as the Immigration and Labour Section under the Administration Unit, he said Ilmu is responsible for managing immigration and labour affairs in Sarawak.

“The Sarawak government, through Ilmu, is developing a holistic and comprehensive system called the Foreign Workers Transformation Approach (FWTA) to improve the process of recruiting foreign/non-resident workers in Sarawak.

“FWTA will serve as the main channel for local employers to advertise job vacancies and provide opportunities for local job seekers to apply for these positions in Sarawak,” he said.

Gerawat said the goal of the FWTA system is to enhance processing times and the recruitment and relocation of foreign/non-resident workers to Sarawak.

The government, he added, aims to have an efficient system to properly regulate the recruitment of foreign/non-resident workers in Sarawak.

Furthermore, he said the Sarawak government has agreed to amend the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (SLO) to align it with the International Labour Organisation conventions and the latest amendments to the Employment Act 1955 (Amendment 2022), which was passed in Parliament in March 2022.

He said this act came into effect on January 1, 2023, benefiting both employers and employees.

Gerawat made these remarks as the guest of honor at the Penan Community Employees appreciation ceremony (Metalun) with Danum Sinar Sdn Bhd at Danum Sinar Estate in Murum today.