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Policies and Guidelines for Hiring Foreign Workers in Malaysia

Need to seek legal advice regarding hiring foreign workers in Malaysia?


Thinking of hiring foreign workers in Malaysia? Worried that about the lengthy and confusing processes? Fear not! Below is a brief guide on how to hire foreign workers in Malaysia. Specifically in rules and policies of hiring foreign workers in Malaysia.

Rule and policies of hiring foreign workers in Malaysia:

Sectors that are allowed to hire foreign workers in MalaysiaCan only work in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, plantation, and services (cooks, cleaning, island resort, hotel, golf caddy, cargo handling) sectors.
Age18 to 45 years old at the time of application.
Certification1. Must be certified under the PASS Immigration and Security Clearance (ISC) at the applicant’s country [1]; and
2. Must be certified as fit and healthy by approved medical centers in the applicant’s country[2].
Individuals who are prohibited from entering this country[3]1. Unable to show that he is capable of supporting himself and his family, he has definite employment or is likely to become a pauper;
2. Suffering from a mental disorder or is suffering from contagious/ infectious disease;
3. Refuse to submit medical examination;
4. Have been convicted of a crime or is connected with the conviction;
5. Prostitutes or person living and receiving the proceeds from prostitution;
6. Attempt to bring into Malaysia prostitutes/ other individuals for prostitution/ immoral purpose;
7. Vagrant or habitual beggars;
8. Entry into Malaysia is deemed unlawful under any written law;
9. Advocate for violence and destabilizing the government and its public officials or who teaches and advocates the destruction of property;
10. Any individuals who are affiliated or is a member of any organization advocating the above principles/ belief;
11. Deemed to be undesirable by the Minister;
12. Deemed undesirable by the Director-General as a result of repatriation of the individuals by the individuals’ country;
13. Do not possess valid travel documents or not in possession of those documents;
14. Family and dependants of prohibited individuals; and
15. Pass or permit has been cancelled by the Director-General.
Levy Payment Rates1. Manufacturing – RM1,850.00
2. Construction – RM1,850.00
3. Plantation – RM640.00
4. Agricultural – RM640.00
5. Services – RM1,850.00
Nationalities that are allowed to work in Malaysia1. Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
2. Only male Filipino workers are allowed to work in Malaysia.
3. Indian workers are allowed to work in all sectors except manufacturing sector.
4. Male Indonesian workers are allowed to work in all sectors except in the manufacturing sector.

Procedure of hiring foreign workers in Malaysia:

Pre Arrival :

  1. Obtain quota of foreign workers from the Ministry of Home Affairs, One Stop Centre (OSC);
  2. Obtain the individual ISC results from the ISC results of the applicant’s country;
  3. Apply to the Immigration Department for a Visa with Reference (VDR) approval via immigration counter or online[4].

Post Arrival :

  1. Foreign workers can enter Malaysia via authorized entry points using issued VDR by the immigration office and entry visa issued by the Malaysian Attaches Offices in their respective country;
  2. Upon arrival, the employer has 24 hours to complete the clearance process of their foreign worker;
  3. Apply for a Visit Pass (Temporary Employment)[VP(TE)]. VP(TE) will only be issued once the individual obtains a medical certificate (FOMEMA) from a certified clinic/ hospital. It must be done within 30 days upon entering Malaysia[5]. Failure to do so will bar the individual from staying and working in Malaysia.
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Need to seek legal advice regarding hiring foreign workers in Malaysia?


1. List of centers: https://www.imi.gov.my/images/pdf/2017/isc/ISC-19may2017.pdf

2. List of medical centers: https://www.imi.gov.my/images/pdf/Senarai_Pusat_Kesihatan_as_at_1Mei2015.pdf

3. Section 8 (3)(a) – (o), Immigration Act 1959/ 1963.

4. VDR checklist: https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/foreign-worker.html

5. FOMEMA can be done at https://portal.fomema.my/


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