Govt to explore new technologies to enhance foreign labour recruitment, says Home Minister

SEPANG: The government is committed to exploring new technologies to enhance its service, including blockchain for foreign labour recruitment, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic).

The Home Minister added that his ministry has been working closely with the Human Resources Ministry to find more ways to expedite the processes involved.

"We’ve never closed any doors of opportunities or ideas to explore new technologies, including blockchain.

"The government is committed to exploring this kind of technology," he said after launching the Malaysia Autogate for Foreign Visitors in Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday (Feb 27).

Saifuddin said, however, the integration of blockchain in the ministry’s system was still at an early stage.

He said the priority was ensuring the cost of foreign labour recruitment was low and taking care of the welfare of the workers.

Earlier, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar said that Malaysia would rely on blockchain technology to ensure transparency in foreign worker recruitment and free from forced labour elements.

"The ministry agreed with the UK and will take immediate action to use blockchain technology, which is critical for the purpose of transparency monitoring of migrant workers.

"This is to ensure that the intake of migrant workers is free from elements of forced labour.

"This is also in line with the International Labour Organisation requirements which listed indicators of 'forced labour', including that of debt-bondage," said Sivakumar in a statement today after the recent three-day visit by UK’s Migration and Modern Slavery Envoy Andrew Patrick.