THE Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has expressed concern over the low approval rate of foreign worker applications as per the recent news reports citing Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan following the opening of the foreign worker submission process on February 15.
While the manufacturing sector has recorded the highest number of applications, FMM’s president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai has described the 0.55% approval rate as “most troubling” given the industry’s dire need of workers to support their business recovery and expansion plan with the anticipated pick up in sales and external demand.
An area of concern is where there were instances of applications that could not be processed due to incomplete documents and information as well as companies exceeding their quota.
While welcoming the fact that the applications process is now completely online, Soh said it is important for the authorities to provide employers with a clear, consistent and transparent process flow of the application process, including the guidelines, criteria, documentation, and terms and conditions to ensure a smooth and expeditious application process.
“This is particularly crucial given that the entire application process has now migrated to the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS) where previously the FWCMS was only used for the application of the calling visa,” he pointed out in a media statement.
“Employers may not be entirely clear with the new application process flow and requirements, thus leading to some of the teething issues as cited in the media reports.”
As such, FMM stressed that it is very important that the reasons for any rejection or non-processing be clearly communicated in order for employers to quickly rectify the application where necessary.
“Employers should also be allowed to continue with the application process at the point of where the application got stuck and not be required to re-start the process from the beginning as a lot of precious time has been spent and would be lost if they have to re-start the entire process,” insisted Soh.
On the same note, FMM also requested that the current 30-day mandatory advertisement period under the MyFutureJobs be shortened given that the legitimacy of the need to recruit foreign workers is well-established as employers would not opt to employ foreign workers if they are able to fill their vacancies with local workers.
On the seven-day quarantine period for foreign workers which is still applicable, FMM suggested that companies to be allowed to bring the workers to their accommodation facility to fulfil the quarantine period (as well as all the necessary tests and medical check-up) instead of housing them at the government-approved quarantine centres which are mainly located in the Klang Valley vicinity only.
“This would shorten the waiting period for employers to process the work permits for the workers,” added the voice of the Malaysian manufacturing industry. – April 6, 2022
