Over 200,000 foreign workers' visa approved this year so far, says Immigration Dept

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 225,181 Visa with Reference (VDR) applications have been approved this year through e-VDR, says the Immigration Department.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the department has received a total of 229,151 VDR applications of which 225,181 applications have been approved as of Sept 30.

"The remaining 3,970 VDR applications are still in the process to be approved and will be completed within seven working days," he said in a statement on Saturday (Oct 1).

He was responding to a letter to the editor by National Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai, who called for faster processing of foreign workers' visas.

VDR approvals this year consisted of 4,635 foreign maids, 12,740 from the construction sector, 45,405 from the service sector, 120,941 factory workers, 32,171 in the farming sector and 9,289 in the agriculture sector, he said.

"As of Sept 30, a total of 101,502 foreign workers have entered the country.

"The country has a total of 1,244,400 foreign workers currently," he said.

Khairul Dzaimee said the department understood the need for foreign workers in local industries of various sectors.

"That is why the VDR was fully introduced online and there is no manual process involved in issuing the VDR.

"E-VDR, which is available in the MyImms system grants visa approvals to employers after their quota is approved by the Human Resources Ministry," he said.

The department is committed to increasing the efficiency of the management of foreign workers, Khairul Dzaimee said.

"Employers can renew the temporary work permit for foreign workers (PLKS) or their work permits through the e-PLKS system.

"We are also conducting a pilot project, in issuing the PLKS through digital endorsement through e-Pass, which will enable employers to print the permits of their foreign workers," he said.

All online facilities were developed by the department, he added.

"We are also open to having dialogues with all stakeholders to improve the management of foreign workers in the country," he said.