FMM Backs Use Of AI, Digitalisation In Foreign Worker Recruitment

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM) has expressed its support for the government's efforts to enhance the foreign worker recruitment system through greater digitalisation and the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

FMM president Jacob Lee Chor Kok said the transition towards digital and AI-enabled platforms was timely, as the industry required workforce solutions that were faster, more reliable, and demand-driven.

He noted that such technology had the potential to reduce administrative burdens, improve job matching, and address inefficiencies in the recruitment process.

"Technology is an enabler. With the right data and integration, AI can help deliver a system that is efficient, transparent, and responsive to industry needs," he said in a statement today.

Lee emphasised that any system enhancements should build on established foundations to create a more integrated end-to-end ecosystem for employers.

He also called for a functionally integrated approach where the Human Resources Ministry (KESUMA) led front-end workforce management, including demand validation and job matching.

“At the same time, existing platforms such as the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS) can continue to play an important role in the back-end regulatory process, particularly in areas relating to security clearance, immigration control, and visa processing under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs,” he said.

In the same statement, Lee stressed that these improvements should uphold principles of transparency and integrity.

"FMM would welcome efforts to minimise intermediary involvement on both sides, thereby reducing the risk of forced labour incidences while enhancing transparency and integrity across the entire recruitment process," he said.

Lee also pointed out that an efficient recruitment system should go hand in hand with the proposed multi-tier levy mechanism to support industry needs while encouraging long-term investments in automation and workforce transformation.

-- BERNAMA