Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has directed the relevant ministries and government agencies to resolve foreign worker employment applications within one month, with priority given to sectors facing urgent labour shortages, particularly the restaurant industry.
He said the government acknowledged the pressing need for restaurant operators to fill vacant positions but stressed that the recruitment of foreign workers must remain properly regulated.
“We cannot simply open the floodgates to address labour shortages when the country already has a large number of foreign workers, including many who are unskilled. However, I agree that there is an urgent need to fill vacancies in certain sectors, especially restaurants.
“God willing, starting Monday, I am giving the relevant ministries and departments a maximum of one month to resolve foreign worker applications based on priority,” he said during the launch of the Indian Muslim Transformational Framework (IMTF) 2030 at the PICCA@Arena Butterworth Convention Centre.
Also present were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim, and National MUKMIN Federation president Datuk Shahul Dawood.
Previously, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the MADANI Government spokesperson, said the Cabinet had agreed to review the need for foreign worker recruitment in several sectors, including restaurants and construction.
Malaysia currently maintains a policy limiting the number of foreign workers allowed in the country. Under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), foreign workers are capped at 15 per cent of the national workforce, while the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) aims to reduce the figure to 10 per cent by 2030.
During the event, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, announced an allocation of RM2 million to the National MUKMIN Federation to support welfare programmes and educational assistance for children from low-income families as part of the government’s efforts to improve access to education.
Earlier, the Prime Minister officially launched IMTF 2030, the first comprehensive five-year transformation framework for Malaysia’s Indian Muslim community, outlining long-term goals in education, entrepreneurship, leadership and national development.
