The Government of Malaysia is preparing to launch a new digital hiring platform that will allow employers to recruit foreign workers directly, eliminating the role of private recruitment agents and lowering overall hiring costs. The initiative is designed to promote transparent foreign worker recruitment, reduce exploitation, and align Malaysia’s labour market practices with international standards.
Human Resources Minister Ramanan Ramakrishnan said the proposed digital recruitment system aims to curb excessive placement fees and ensure migrant workers clearly understand their job terms and employment conditions before arriving in Malaysia. At present, many foreign workers depend on intermediaries and often incur significant debts due to high recruitment charges imposed by private agents.
Under the new online hiring platform, Malaysian employers and overseas job seekers will connect directly through virtual interviews supported by AI-powered translation tools to address language barriers. Authorities believe this technology-driven approach will help prevent situations where workers arrive in the country only to find that wages, job roles, or working conditions differ from what was originally promised.
Officials noted that recruitment fees in certain cases range between US$5,000 and US$8,000, far exceeding international labour guidelines that recommend charges should not exceed one month’s wages. Workers from multiple labour-source countries reportedly pay substantial sums to secure employment opportunities in Malaysia, increasing their vulnerability to debt bondage and exploitation.
The government is also exploring a government-to-government recruitment model with labour-sending nations to strengthen transparency, legal compliance, and worker protection. Worker records and identity verification would be integrated with Malaysia’s MyDigital ID system to ensure secure documentation and streamlined processing.
The proposal will undergo further stakeholder consultations before being submitted to the Cabinet for approval. If implemented later this year, the digital platform could significantly transform Malaysia’s foreign worker recruitment framework by making cross-border hiring more affordable, transparent, and compliant with labour rights standards.
