PUTRAJAYA: Putrajaya has pledged to ease the process of recruiting foreign workers, adding that the country needs such workforce for economic growth.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government is looking at speeding up the recruitment process, which includes submission of the application by employers, approvals, issuance of visa and medical check-ups, among others, to less than 30 days.
“We see there is a space for the period to be shortened further,” he said at a joint press conference with Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar after a special committee meeting yesterday.
Giving an example, Saifuddin said previously it took 30 days for employers to advertise for workers.
“Now, it will only take a day,” he said, adding that the new quicker processing would help affected economic sectors recover post-Covid-19.
Based on a paper tabled by the Economic Planning Unit yesterday, Saifuddin said Malaysia could see up to 1% growth in gross domestic product if the recruitment process is made easier for key economic sectors.
He also said the government is looking to increase the approval for foreign workers which currently stood at around 43%.
On whether the labour shortage issue can be resolved by the first quarter of this year, Saifuddin said the government was aiming to achieve it.
Working together: Saifuddin and Sivakumar at the inter-ministry meeting in Putrajaya. — Bernama
The Home Ministry, Saifuddin added, would be the “main custodian” for the recruitment of foreign workers and would handle most of the hiring process.
He said that as part of the realignment in managing foreign worker recruitment, the Human Resources Ministry would continue to oversee the aspects of identifying and engaging with source countries, determining quota eligibility and labour policies.
“The realignment means three fourths of the approval process will be under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry, as the main custodian,” he said.
The process of hiring a foreign worker begins at the application of an employer until the arrival of the worker.
Saifuddin said stakeholders such as employers, industries, associations and foreign workers do not need to worry about this policy change.
He said the realignment would not affect the procedure of hiring foreign workers.
On the shortage of workers from the plantation sector, Sivakumar said the inter-ministry meeting was to discuss the matter and find a solution.
“We realise that not only the plantation industry but several industries have been affected.
“If possible, we need to see how we can get workers as soon as possible,” he said.
In 2022, out of the 1.6 million applications received, the government had approved 676,070 foreign workers.
As of Dec 31, there were 1.45 million temporary foreign worker pass holders in the country.
This includes 316,446 new recruits who were hired last year.
