Foreign Worker Numbers Fall 13 Pct To 2.13 Mln Amid Efforts To Curb Dependency

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- A total of 2,132,578 active and legally registered foreign workers were recorded working in Malaysia as of Oct 15, marking a 13 per cent decrease compared to 2,452,010 workers in the same period last year.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the decline reflects the government’s continued efforts to reduce dependence on foreign labour across all economic sectors.

“The manufacturing sector recorded 622,388 foreign workers, followed by construction (589,684), services (390,607), plantation (263,131), agriculture (158,628), domestic helpers (107,375) and the mining and quarrying sector (765),” he said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Awang Hashim (PN–Pendang) regarding the number of foreign workers by sector and the government’s position on limiting their involvement to reduce dependency and optimise the use of local manpower.

Abdul Rahman said the recruitment of foreign workers is currently limited to six main formal sectors, namely construction, services, plantation, agriculture, mining and quarrying, while only foreign domestic helpers are permitted in the informal sector.

He said under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), the government’s policy caps the employment of foreign workers at no more than 15 per cent of the national workforce, with targets to reduce it to 10 per cent by 2030 under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) and to five per cent by 2035.

To encourage the hiring of local workers, particularly in semi-skilled and skilled sectors, Abdul Rahman said several initiatives have been introduced.

They include maintaining the government’s decision on March 18, 2023, to freeze approvals for new foreign worker quotas and applications, as well as implementing a Multi-Tier Levy mechanism beginning in 2026.

He said the ministry is also strengthening the implementation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes in collaboration with domestic and international companies through agencies such as HRD Corp, TalentCorp and the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) to enhance local workforce upskilling and reskilling.

-- BERNAMA