Employers get ministry approval to rehire foreign workers

The government says 67,068 local workers and 4,753 foreign workers have been laid off as at last month.

KUALA LUMPUR: The human resources ministry has given employers the flexibility to rehire foreign workers who have been laid off if they do not get any response from local workers.

Its minister M Saravanan, however, urged employers to give priority to Malaysians to fill these job vacancies.

“Employment of foreign workers must involve those who are still in the country and have valid work permits as well as having worked in the same employment sector.

“Employers are advised to ensure the foreign workers have undergone Covid-19 screening,” he said in a statement.

There had been requests by some employers for the government to lift the freeze on the recruitment of foreign workers, claiming there was still a need for them.

As of July, 67,068 local workers and 4,753 foreign workers have been laid off.

Saravanan said employers who intend to rehire foreign workers should first fill out the required form and submit them to the Labour Department headquarters in Putrajaya, or do so by post or email to ptm@mohr.gov.my.

The form may be downloaded from www.jtksm.mohr.gov.my. - FMT