The Ministry of Human Resource has confirmed that there are about 1.3 million foreign workers in Malaysia working in various sectors which are allowed to employ them. So far, more than 612,000 workers have been registered and passed the Safety and Health Assessment in their respective home countries, while 37.3 per cent of them (or 228,321) have been given the necessary visa by the Immigration Department and are waiting for their departure to Malaysia.
The ministry also explained that incoming foreign workers in some sectors which have had their quota approved — such as in the plantation sector — will see workers come in stages and not all at once. This was decided after a discussion with industry players.
Employers can schedule the arrival of their workers and they (the employers) have up to 18 months to bring them in once levy payments have been made.
Up until 26 September 2022, the need for foreign workers in Malaysia totals 1.8 million, the most it has ever been. So far, the Ministry of Human Resource has approved 541,315 quotas for the recruitment of foreign workers, with levies paid for 436,613 of them so far.
The ministry said taking into account the existing 1.3 million foreign workers and the approved quota, the number has almost met the industry’s demand for foreign labor.
