➢ You have not faced legal charges related to human trafficking or forced labor

➢ You haven’t been found in breach of the Employment Act in the past

➢ You don’t have any unresolved violations concerning social security, minimum wage, or housing standards

➢ Your business sector qualifies for hiring migrants. The industries that are eligible for employing foreign workers include:

• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Construction
• Plantation
• Services (e.g., cooking, cleaning, accommodation, golf caddy, cargo handling, etc.)

➢ You must give priority to local job seeker by advertising the position to Malaysian nationals

➢ You must receive approval from the Director General of Labor (DGL) before hiring foreign workers. The application can be submitted online through DGL’s website

➢ The information you will need to provide includes:

• The vacancy that needs to be filled
• The total workforce count
• The number of foreign employees
• The company’s registration number from the Companies Commission of Malaysia
• Contact particulars and location
• The company’s current status (active or inactive)
• The industry in which your business is operating

➢ You will also need to address the following queries:

• Is there a record of employee information maintained on the company premises?
• Does the company provide employees with a copy of their employment contract?
• How many paid holidays do employees usually receive yearly?
• What is the company’s payday?
• Does the company issue payslips to its employees?
• What are the typical working hours?
• What is the annual sick leave entitlement for employees?
• Does the company make contributions towards employee social security?
• Has the company ever faced charges under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007?

➢ You must obtain the quota to hire foreign workers in Malaysia. To do so, you must submit an application to the Ministry of Home Affairs, One Stop Centre (OSC)

➢ Required documents:

• Form for requesting foreign worker quota 
• Photograph or company site brochure

• Additional documents as per industry specifications

➢ Levy payment rates:

• Manufacturing, Construction, and Services  – RM 1,850
• Plantation and Agriculture – RM 640

➢ Post a job ad on VideoWorkers and select from the candidates who applied or search the database directly

➢ After finding a good match, conduct the interview and make a job offer

➢ Make sure the candidates you recruit meet the following requirements:

• They must be aged 18 to 45 
• They must be deemed fit and healthy as approved by the medical center in their country of residence
• They must not be on the list of foreigners who are prohibited from entering Malaysia under Section 8 (3) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963
• Candidates who are to work under a Visitor’s Pass for Temporary Employment (which is the most common type of Employment Pass in Malaysia) must come from specific countries. These countries include: 
  • Bangladesh – can work only in the plantation sector via government agreements
  • Cambodia
  • Indonesia – male citizens can work only in the manufacturing sectors whereas females can work in all sectors
  • Philippines – only male citizens can work in Malaysia
  • Laos
  • Myanmar
  • Vietnam
  • India – not allowed to work in manufacturing sector
  • Nepal
  • Kazakhstan
  • Sri Lanka
  • Thailand
  • Pakistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan

➢ You must obtain the Immigration Security Clearance (ISC) results for your future employee

➢ You can obtain an Immigration Security Clearance from an ISC center located in the applicant’s country of origin

➢ You must apply for a Visa with Reference (VDR) at the Immigration Department

➢ Required documents:

• VDR application form fully completed and signed
• Approval letter from Ministry of Home Affairs (quota approval) 
• Proof of levy payment
• IM.12 & IM.38 forms 
• Security bonds (deposits/insurance guarantee/bank guarantee) 
• Copy of worker’s passport
• A passport-size photo of the worker
• Medical report from the country of origin approved by the Ministry of Health 
• Worker’s Compensation Scheme (insurance)
• Health Insurance Protection Scheme Foreign Workers (SPIKPA)

➢ Application fee: between RM 60 and RM 500 depending on the applicant’s citizenship

➢ Your future employee must apply for an entry visa at the Malaysian Consulate or Embassy in their country of residence

➢ Required documents:

• Passport valid for at least six months
• Completed visa application form 
• Two recent passport-size photos
• Invitation letter from employer
• Certified Company Registration documents
• Copy of medical report
• Immigration Security Clearance (ISC) results
• Any additional documents that the Embassy may request, such as flight tickets, bank statements, etc.

➢ Processing time: a few business days

➢ Within 30 days of entering Malaysia, your employee must undergo a medical examination with FOMEMA

➢ If your employee’s health status is not satisfactory, they can submit an appeal

➢ If the appeal is rejected, your employee will be forced to return to their country of residence

➢ Processing time: a few business days

➢ In order for your worker to obtain a Visitor’s Pass for Temporary Employment, you must submit the worker’s passport and insurance policies to the Immigration Department

➢ Upon approval of the pass, your worker will obtain a work permit sticker and ID card (i-Kad)