Malaysia will open online application for the recruitment of foreign workers in its plantation sector through special exemption from Jan 28, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan on Saturday (January 15).
Besides, he said application for foreign workers for other sectors, including the plantation sector without special exemption, will be opened from February 15.
All applications will be accepted through the official government website: www.fwcms.com.my, reports Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama.
The government had granted special approval to bring in 32,000 foreign workers through special exemption last September to ease the labour shortage in the plantation sector.
At the Cabinet meeting last December, it was agreed that foreign worker recruitment will be opened to all sectors other than the plantation sector.
Permitted sectors are agriculture, manufacturing, services, mining and quarrying, construction and domestic helpers.
Meanwhile, Saravanan reminded employers to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Admission of Foreign Workers set by the government.
He said the SOP covered four phases, namely pre-release, on arrival, after arrival (quarantine) and post-quarantine.
"All foreign workers are required to undergo quarantine for seven days during which they will be screened for Covid-19 twice and the cost to be borne by the employer," he added.
He said currently all quarantine centres, as well as hotels for quarantine purposes, were in the Klang Valley and that they could accommodate 10,000 people at a time.
In this regard, he said, the ministry welcomed parties keen to offer facilities for use as quarantine centres.
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