EMPLOYERS who obtain conditional approval from the Human Resources Ministry to employ foreign workers under the Relaxation Plan for Foreign Worker Employment need to settle the levy at the Immigration Department before choosing workers from the source country.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said it is one of the procedures set to employ foreign workers under the plan, which will be enforced until March 31.

“With the conditional approval document, employers can pay the levy at the Malaysian Immigration Department. Employers can then identify foreign workers in the source country to undergo health screenings as a precondition before their departure to Malaysia,” he said in a statement today.

Through the plan, employers are allowed to employ foreign workers from 15 source countries based on the employer’s ability and needs, and are exempt from going through employment eligibility preconditions and quotas.

At the Foreign Worker Management Special Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on January 10, the participants agreed to create a Relaxation Plan for Employment of Foreign Workers as a measure to meet the need for foreign workers, in addition to reimplementing the Labour Recalibration Programme.

Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar today said the government will implement the Foreign Worker Employment Relaxation Plan programme for five critical sectors and sub-sectors, namely manufacturing, construction, plantations, agriculture and services (restaurants only).

Saifuddin said after the levy payment process, employers need to complete visa with reference applications, single-entry visa applications abroad, the immigration process at the international entrance, health screening of foreign workers in the country and the issuance of temporary employment visit passes (TEVPs).

“After the issuance of the TEVPs, employers will be given a maximum of six months to comply with preconditions that were exempt at the initial stage, such as compliance with labour laws and quota eligibility criteria under the ministry, as well as minimum employment requirements under the regulatory agency,” he said.

To ensure compliance with the preconditions within the stipulated period, Saifuddin said the Home Ministry, in collaboration with the Human Resources Ministry, will strengthen inspectorate enforcement in the management of foreign workers.

“If the employer violates any of the rules and laws in force, the employer may be subject to action in accordance with the relevant acts.

“This integrated element of inspectorate enforcement is to balance the security element, in our interest to increase the national economic growth rate,” he said.

Regarding the Labour Recalibration Programme, which has been reintroduced for a year, Saifuddin said applications for the programme can be made through the Immigration Department website.

Saifuddin said a visit to the three main source countries – Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal – will be held in the near future to discuss the safety of foreign workers and to consult the Relaxation Plan for the Employment of Foreign Workers and the Labour Recalibration Programme. – Bernama, January 17, 2023.