- Malaysia is set to launch a digital platform for direct hiring of foreign workers
- The initiative aims to reduce recruitment costs and exploitation.
- The move aims to address issues like debt bondage and modern slavery
The Malaysian government is preparing to roll out a new digital hiring platform that will enable employers to recruit foreign workers without going through private agents who have traditionally dominated the process.
According to a report by Economic Times on Tuesday, February 10, Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister, Datuk Ramakrishnan, said the initiative is designed to lower recruitment expenses, curb exploitation, and promote greater transparency in the foreign labour sector. The development was first disclosed by The Malaysian Reserve.
Ramakrishnan criticised the country’s heavy reliance on intermediaries, noting that it has left many migrant workers vulnerable to abusive practices, including inflated recruitment charges, debt bondage, and aspects of modern slavery.
“The issue has been raised repeatedly in Parliament and highlighted in the media. We want to eliminate the middleman problem,” he said, as quoted by The Malaysian Reserve.
Tackling recruitment abuses
The minister explained that many foreign workers are compelled to pay steep recruitment fees before departing their home countries, often forcing them to borrow money and arrive in Malaysia already burdened by debt.
He added that some migrants eventually discover that the jobs they secure differ sharply from what was originally promised.
Ramakrishnan also pointed out that complaints about recruitment abuses have frequently surfaced in parliamentary debates and among civil society organisations, leading the government to pursue a major shift away from the agent-led recruitment system.
How the system operates
Under the proposed framework, Malaysian employers would be able to engage directly with prospective foreign workers through a centralised online portal.
Key employment details, such as job roles, salaries, and working conditions, would be clearly outlined and agreed upon before contracts are finalised, helping to prevent misrepresentation.
Officials believe the platform will simplify hiring procedures, reduce associated costs, and strengthen oversight of foreign labour recruitment across Malaysia.
South Korea eases visa rules for International students at vocational Universities
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that South Korea had announced relaxed visa regulations for international students enrolled in selected vocational university programs, aiming to address regional labor shortages and attract skilled foreign talent.
The Ministry of Justice designated 16 vocational programmes across the country as workforce-focused technical courses. Students in these programmes are eligible for eased D-2 student visa requirements, expanded part-time work hours, and a pathway to a special work visa after graduation.