KUCHING: The Sarawak Business Federation (SBF) welcomes the attention given by the government on the labour needs raised by the industries.
Despite slightly overdue, its secretary Datuk Jonathan Chai said SBF was grateful that the government has recognised the importance and complementary role that foreign workers played in supporting the development of the state’s economy.
“Especially during this period of prolonged uncertainty with 2023 forecasted to be a tough and challenging year as global growth is expected to slow down, global inflation to remain elevated and trade volume to contract due to the geopolitical crisis between Russia and Ukraine and the persistent trade war between China and the United States.
“Of course, it is a very important and wise move from the perspective of the security of Sarawak to regularise the existing undocumented foreign workers in Sarawak as legal foreign workers as the authorities would be informed and in a better position to track their movements,” Chai told New Sarawak Tribune today.
Chai was commenting on the Labour Recalibration Programme (RTK) 2.0, which will be implemented from July 26 to Dec 31 this year, as announced by Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala.
Gerawat said the primary objective of RTK 2.0 is to regularise existing undocumented foreign workers (PATI) in Sarawak as legal foreign workers.
To participate in RTK 2.0, all eligible PATI and their respective employers must directly deal with the Immigration Department and the Labour Department in Sarawak.
Employers operating in the ‘Dangerous, Difficult, and Dirty’ (3D) sectors are allowed to hire PATI during the implementation period of RTK 2.0. The sectors involved in RTK 2.0 are Manufacturing, Construction, Plantation, Agriculture, Service, Mining and Quarrying, and Foreign Domestic Helper.
