The Home Ministry has been urged to clarify the process by which foreign workers who have been cheated by fraudulent outsourcing companies can re-register for the now closed 6P legalisation programme.

Malaysian Trades Union Congress labour advocate Peter Kandiah said without a clear guideline, both workers and their employers would be “too scared” to go to the Immigration Department.

foreign workers 201107 “How will they know they won't be detained if they go to immigration to try to re-register themselves?” Kandiah said when contacted.

“Plus, to register to be legalised, they have to prove employment. Employers won't want to come forward unless penalties for hiring illegal migrants and compound (fines) for workers who overstay are waived.”

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday those who can prove they were cheated can try to re-register themselves, in order for their stay to be legalised.

Zahid said investigations have started to uncover those involved in the alleged multi-million ringgit 6P scam, which may include government insiders.

Malaysiakini reported that hundreds of foreign workers had paid an average of RM4,000 each to  companies claiming to be 6P agents in an attempt to be legalised.

NONE They also gave their passports to the agents, and received purported government documents to prove that they have been registered but their passports have not been returned.

Checks with the authorities have shown that the documents were forged and the registrations were never made.

The 6P legalisation programme ran from July 2011 to April 2012 for registration and legalisation of foreign workers, through 336 companies appointed by the Home Ministry.

A total of 393,358 illegal immigrants were legalised for work at 76,195 premises as at April 10, 2012, while another 127,503 were granted amnesty and allowed to return to their country of origin.

The government also earned some RM1.533 billion in levies as at April 10, 2012.