The Malaysian Insight

THE delay in the arrival of foreign workers to Malaysia is due to issues in the source country, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

The home minister said the ministry has found that the current policy in the source country affected the movement of workers to foreign countries, especially to Malaysia. 

He said employers in the country had also contributed to the delay as they grappled with cost issues. 

“Employers tend to bring in foreign workers in stages to reduce the burden of high expenses, especially involving flight costs,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya following a briefing by the Immigration Department this morning.

He said from January 1 to December 4, the department received as many as 403,869 applications to bring in foreign workers. 

Of that number, he said, the approval to bring in foreign workers through Visa With Reference (VDR) was as many as 373,459.

Meanwhile, the remaining 30,410 people are being processed and will be considered for approval within seven working days.

“Out of a total of 373,459 VDRs approved, only 254,677 foreign workers or 68% have arrived in this country to work,” he said. 

He said that as of November 30, the number of foreign workers holding temporary work visit passes was 1.39 million, covering seven  sectors. 

Saifuddin said the manufacturing sector represented the largest number with 510,507 people, followed by construction (308,886), plantations (160,728), services (208,425), agriculture (110,598), foreign domestic workers (92,338) and mining (142). 

In another development, Saifuddin said he fully supports new staff restructuring efforts at the department, and it can be implemented without financial implications.

“We are able to create new staffing by giving opportunities to members and officers who are currently serving.

“I was informed that some in the support group are highly qualified, but the positions held now require low qualifications,” he said. 

He said a discussion is currently being held between the Home Ministry secretary-general and the Public Services director-general. – December 9, 2022.