Malaysia to temporarily suspend applications for foreign worker recruitment from 15-31 Aug 2022

This suspension will allow the review of the application procedure, following the Employment Act 1955 (Amendment 2022) which takes effect on 1 September. 

Malaysia will be temporarily suspending applications for the recruitment of foreign workers from 15 August to 31 August 2022.

That said, all applications submitted before or on 14 August will be processed and completed before or on 31 August, the Ministry of Human Resources (Kementerian Sumber Manusia/KSM) said in a statement. 

According to the Ministry, this suspension will allow the review of the application procedure, following the Employment Act 1955 (Amendment 2022) which takes effect on 1 September 2022 (Thursday).

Employers will be informed of the new application procedure at a later date.

As previously reported, among a few ucpoming amendments to the Employment Act 1955, employers are to note:

• the introduction of flexible work arrangements (FWAs): From 1 September, employees in Malaysia who would like to have FWAs can apply for it with their respective employers. All FWA applications must be made in writing, and can cover changes in working hours, working days, as well as the place of work. Employers have to approve or reject FWAs applications in writing within 60 days, and will have to justify any rejections made. [Full updates on this]
• the extension of maternity leave and paternity leave: With the amendments, mothers in Malaysia will be eligible for 98 days of maternity leave, up from 60 days. At the same time, fathers can expect to have seven consecutive days of paternity leave, an increase from three days. [Full updates on this]
• the reduction of maximum weekly hours of work: Per the amendments, the maximum weekly hours of work stipulated in the Act will be reduced to 45 hours, down from 48. This will apply to both shift- and non-shift employees.

Malaysia welcomes first batch of Bangladeshi workers in the manufacturing sector

In further updates, KSM has shared that on 9 August 2022, Malaysia welcomed its first batch of Bangladeshi workers in the manufacturing sector. This comes as part of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Employment of Bangladeshi Workers, which was signed by both countries on 19 December 2021.

Accordingly, Bangladeshi workers are expected to enter Malaysia in stages starting the same date. In addition, the Bangladesh High Commission last week also certified applications from 80 local employers, involving the employment of 6,000 Bangladeshis.

Employers who have made levy payments to the Immigration Department of Malaysia and plan to employ Bangladeshi workers can apply for employment attestation and documentation such as employment contracts and work orders to the Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia, KSM said.

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