Malaysia Issues New 8-Step Guideline for Recruiting Foreign Workers

Malaysia’s Human Resources Ministry has issued new guidelines outlining an eight-step process that Malaysian employers must follow when recruiting foreign workers.

The development comes amid renewed efforts to reopen Malaysia’s labour market to Bangladeshi workers. Malaysia had previously approved a list of 25 Bangladeshi recruiting agencies and more than 40 medical centres for worker recruitment and health checks. The selection has drawn criticism from sections of Bangladesh’s manpower-exporting sector, with allegations that a new “syndicate” could emerge.

Bangladesh’s Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the two governments are working together to reopen the labour market and that the process would be transparent, with no scope for a syndicate.

The eight steps

Under Malaysia’s new guidelines, the recruitment process will involve:

1. Employer approval: The Malaysian employer must apply to the relevant authority for permission to recruit workers and advertise the vacancies through the designated platform.
2. Foreign-worker quota: The employer must apply for a foreign-worker quota through the Human Resources Ministry’s One Stop Centre. Documents will be verified online, followed by an interview before the quota decision.
3. Payment of levy/fees: The employer must pay the required levy and recruitment-related government fees through Malaysia’s Immigration Department and MyIMMs system.
4. Conditional approval: The employer must obtain a conditional approval letter through the prescribed government process.
5. Embassy formalities: The necessary procedures must be completed through the Malaysian embassy or relevant diplomatic mission in the worker’s country.
6. Recruitment and deployment: Workers must be recruited from the source country and sent to Malaysia through an approved recruitment agency or employer.
7. Visa with Reference (VDR): The employer must obtain the worker’s VDR.
8. Entry into Malaysia: The worker enters Malaysia, completing the prescribed recruitment process.

Malaysia has advised employers to use its Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS) portal for information on recruitment procedures and approved recruitment agencies.

Bangladesh and Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding on worker recruitment in 2021, which is due to expire in December. Recruitment from Bangladesh was suspended in June 2024 following allegations of corruption, irregularities and syndicate activities.

Bangladesh’s government has reportedly sought clarification from Malaysia regarding the selection of recruiting agencies. Dhaka is also expecting an official announcement from Kuala Lumpur on when the Malaysian labour market will formally reopen to Bangladeshi workers.

Source: BBC Bangla