KUALA LUMPUR: The Association of Employment Agencies, Malaysia (Papa) expressed serious concerns over the ongoing difficulties faced by businesses when applying for foreign worker quotas, which have intensified since applications reopened in October 2025.
The association said it has received a surge of inquiries from multiple industries seeking clarification on application procedures and reporting obstacles encountered throughout the process, including employers’ inability to meet accommodation requirements under Act 446, difficulties in obtaining the required supporting letter under Section 60K, interview officers not approving quotas according to established ratios, and sector-specific restrictions.
