Foreign workers in Malaysia to exceed a million in 2023 (Photo: hr.asia) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) believes that the number of foreign workers in Malaysia will easily exceed 1 million in 2023.
FMM president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said the recruitment of foreign workers has improved from previous years, with the government’s implementation of the Foreign Worker Recruitment Relaxation Plan from Jan 17 to March 31.
According to the FMM Business Conditions Survey for the second half of 2022, more than half (59%) of the respondents said that they can meet their foreign worker needs and obtain their quota approval. The 22nd edition of the survey, released on March 16, was carried out from Jan. 18 to Feb. 28, with a total of 745 respondents nationwide.
Speaking at a press conference, the official revealed that only 8%, which is a small number, were not able to meet their foreign worker needs and obtain their quota approval while the other 33% had indicated “non-applicable”.
Among the 59%, most (40%) were subject to a long wait time to obtain their visa with reference (VDR) from the Immigration Department, he said, but there were also those (27%) who experienced a smooth and fast processing of their VDR.
He noted in terms of sourcing for workers at the source country, one-third of the respondents (33%) were able to do so easily, but 21% still faced difficulties.
Meanwhile, among the 8% who cannot meet their foreign worker needs, he said most attributed it to the slow approval process (16%) and lengthy process that included many conditions to be fulfilled (14%). Another 12% said the application is still in progress.
In addressing their skilled worker needs, Soh said more than half of the respondents faced difficulties in recruiting (68%) and retaining such workers (59%).
Amid the challenges faced, the official said many respondents are willing to collaborate with education and skills training institutions to offer work-integrated learning programmes such as internships, apprenticeships, place and train schemes (34%), as well as curriculum development (29%).
Many are also willing to increase their investment on upskilling and re-skilling their existing staff (34%), he added./.
