Play store
Malaysia is expected to make a final decision within the next one or two days on the resumption of Bangladeshi worker recruitment, as the government moves to address acute labour shortages while reaffirming that Malaysian citizens will continue to receive priority in employment.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the government aims to resolve the backlog of foreign worker recruitment applications within 20 days, ahead of the one-month deadline set by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Indian Community Socio-Economic Development Programme (PPSMI) at SJKT Ladang Senawang in Negeri Sembilan on Tuesday, Ramanan said the government’s first responsibility is to ensure employment opportunities for Malaysians.
“Every job opportunity must first be offered to Malaysians. Only when suitable local workers are unavailable will employers be allowed to recruit foreign workers, subject to existing laws and regulations,” he said.
Responding to a question on proposals to allow legally recognised Rohingya refugees in Malaysia to work, the minister reiterated that the government’s position remains unchanged.
“Our priority is to ensure employment opportunities for Malaysians. Only after that can foreign workers be considered,” he said.
Ramanan said the Human Resources Ministry has been directed by the prime minister to expedite the processing of foreign worker applications, particularly for the services and food and beverage (F&B) sectors, where labour shortages have become increasingly severe.
Relevant departments have also been instructed to simplify procedures, eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and speed up approvals.
Although Prime Minister Anwar has given ministries one month to resolve pending applications, Ramanan said he hopes the process can be completed within 20 days, provided security clearances, labour market assessments and other mandatory procedures are completed on schedule.
The minister’s remarks came after a meeting in Putrajaya with Bangladesh’s Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahadi Amin and Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury.
Describing the discussions as comprehensive and productive, Ramanan said both sides reviewed recruitment timelines, operational procedures and existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and are now working towards a final agreement.
“We will most likely reach a final decision tomorrow or the day after. The decision will then be announced jointly or separately by Malaysia and Bangladesh,” he said.
He noted that although the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries remains valid until the end of the year, the immediate focus is on meeting Malaysia’s urgent labour requirements rather than renegotiating the agreement.
“Bangladesh is ready to supply workers, while Malaysia continues to face labour shortages across several sectors, particularly in the food and beverage industry,” he said.
“We need to address the labour shortage first. Technical and administrative matters can be resolved afterwards.”
Last Friday, Prime Minister Anwar instructed the Human Resources Ministry and relevant agencies to resolve foreign worker recruitment applications, especially for the restaurant sector, within one month, acknowledging the growing workforce shortage affecting several industries.
Malaysia continues to maintain strict controls on foreign labour. Under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), foreign workers are capped at 15 percent of the national workforce, while the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) aims to reduce that proportion to 10 percent by 2030.
Labour market observers believe the expected decision could pave the way for reopening the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers after a prolonged suspension, helping ease Malaysia’s workforce shortages while providing new overseas employment opportunities for thousands of Bangladeshis.