Over 400,000 applications to be approved soon as migrant worker hiring freeze ends

KUALA LUMPUR – The Human Resources Ministry has lifted the temporary suspension for applications to recruit migrant workers, said its minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.  

Speaking to the press, he said that more than 400,000 applications submitted by employers will be approved by the end of this month.

“Although we have made the announcement to temporarily suspend or halt applications, we have agreed to accept and process new applications this Friday onwards,” he said after meeting members of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) at Wisma HRD Corp here today. 

“There is no freeze anymore. We will continue to accept and process the applications.”

This comes after backlash from various quarters and opposition MPs demanding that the government provide a quick turnaround on migrant worker applications and for the recruitment drive to be maintained.  

On August 5, the ministry had announced that applications to hire migrant workers would be temporarily stopped from August 15 to 31. 

It had said in a statement that this was to enable a review of migrant worker procedures following the amendments to the Employment Act 1955 that are to be enforced from September 1 onwards. 

On a related matter, Saravanan today said the ministry has set up a special technical committee to overlook issues pertaining to migrant workers. 

“The special committee is made up of 11 members from the industry and five representatives from the ministry,” he said.  

“They will have discussions as and when needed to help restore the economy.” 

Saravanan also said he has taken note of the grouses of industry players, who called for the deferment of the amended Employment Act 1955.

The amendments include weekly working hours being reduced from 48 to 45, and allowing employees to work flexible hours where they get to choose the location, time and days of work. 

The Tapah MP explained he will table the issue in the next cabinet meeting. 

“I will have to discuss this with the prime minister and the cabinet,” he said. – The Vibes, August 16, 2022