Govt gets 7,500 applications for foreign workers in plantation sector

At the Cabinet meeting last Dec 10, it was agreed that foreign worker recruitment will be opened to all sectors other than the plantation sector

by TMR / pic by BLOOMBERG

THE Ministry of Human Resources has received applications involving an estimated 7,500 foreign workers in the plantation sector.

Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan said in a statement on Saturday that it has also received applications for foreign workers recruitment, ahead of the Feb 15 opening date.

“We have also received other applications from employers but it cannot be considered as it was made by ineligible employers employing foreign workers, namely cooperatives and outsourcing companies,” he said.

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 Dec 10, 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.

Saravanan also reminded employers that all applications must be filled in by the employer and not use any services by private employment agencies.

The private employment agencies will serve only as facilitators and cannot apply for the employment of foreign workers on behalf of the employer, he added.

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.