Sectors in Malaysia where hiring of foreign workers is allowed: manufacturing, hotels, construction, and more

KSM has clarified that hiring of foreign workers is currently restricted to these sectors, and employers are to abide by the usual foreign worker recruitment procedures through the One Stop Centre.

Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources (Kementerian Sumber Manusia, or KSM), on 1 October (Friday), shared an infographic explaining which economic sectors and service sectors can hire foreign workers as part of its manpower resources. This information came from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kementerian Dalam Negeri, or KDN).

According to KDN, there are five economic sectors that are allowed to hire foreign workers. They are:

1. Manufacturing;
2. Construction;
3. Mining and quarrying;
4. Farming, and
5. Agriculture.

The Ministry noted that employers in these sectors are to abide by the usual foreign worker recruitment procedures through the One Stop Centre (OSC). For first-timers, the procedures include obtaining the quota of foreign workers from KDN and OSC; ensuring workers are not below 18 years old, and not above 45 years old at the time of application, and coming from approved countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Bangladesh, India, or Indonesia. Employers can visit this website here for more information.

With regard to service sectors, they are the following:

• Restaurants, but hiring for chefs only;
• Washing and cleaning;
• Resort islands;
• Hotels;
• Spas and reflexology;
• Caddy, one who does odd jobs, but limited to males only;
• Cargo handling at ports and airports;
• Theme parks, but limited to 250 workers with subject to local staffing, and
• Shelters for the homeless

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Image / KSM Facebook

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