New foreign worker application
Total: approx. 4 months
- MY PASS approval approx. 1 month
- eQuota approval (documents complete) approx. 1.5 months
- E-embassy processing approx. 1.5–2.5 months
Hiring workers in Malaysia for Chinese companies
Starting a business in Malaysia from mainland China? Tai Industries explains how to hire foreign workers (pekerja asing) in Mandarin, handles the government portals for you and keeps your payroll compliant with Malaysian wage law.
A different system, with its own vocabulary
Malaysia's foreign worker system has its own portals and its own terms: MyFuture JobsNational job portal where vacancies are advertised to locals first., FWCMSForeign Workers Centralized Management System (online platform)., JTKSMLabour Department of Peninsular Malaysia., KESUMAMinistry of Human Resources., eQuotaForeign worker quota approval., PLKSTemporary Employment Visit Pass (Pas Lawatan Kerja Sementara): the work permit.. For an owner arriving from mainland China, none of these are familiar.
You do not need to learn the system before you start. You need someone who can explain it clearly and run it properly.
How we help Chinese business owners
- Everything explained in Mandarin. The steps, the documents, the fees and the timelines, in clear Simplified Chinese on the 中文 version of this website and in our consultations.
- Government portals handled for you. We prepare and submit the applications in MyFuture Jobs and FWCMS, and follow up with JTKSM and KESUMA.
- Payroll that follows Malaysian wage law. Minimum wage, OT rates, EPFEmployees Provident Fund (KWSP). and PERKESOSocial Security Organisation (SOCSO)., with worked figures.
- Contact on WeChat or WhatsApp. Message us in Chinese on whichever you already use.
Talk to us on WeChat
Scan our QR code or search our WeChat ID, and write to us in Chinese.
WeChat ID: WeChat ID coming soon
The process in brief
A new application follows 8 official steps and takes approx. 4 months in total. The vacancy is first advertised to locals on MyFuture Jobs, the applications are filed in FWCMS, the employer signs the AkujanjiEmployer's letter of undertaking. undertaking at JTKSM, and KESUMA approves the eQuota before the worker is recruited and arrives.
Each step is explained on our page about how to apply for foreign workers in Malaysia.
All timelines are approximate and depend on the authorities' processing times.
What it costs
We currently handle new applications for Bangladeshi workers. The estimated total is RM 3,655 per worker: RM 2,655 in permit and government fees plus our RM 1,000 service fee.
The levyAnnual foreign worker levy paid by the employer. (levi) and the PLKS (Pas Lawatan Kerja Sementara) work permit are charged every year. See the foreign worker cost breakdown and calculator.
Permit & Government Fees
RM 2,655 / worker
RM 2,055 application subtotal + RM 600 post-arrival estimate
Tai Industries Service Fee
RM 1,000 / worker
Charged for each worker brought in
Estimated total
RM 3,655 / worker
per worker, Bangladesh
* Permit & government fees of RM 2,655 per worker apply to Bangladeshi workers and are set by the Malaysian authorities. They may change without notice. The levy (RM 1,850) and work permit/PLKS (RM 60) are charged annually and are payable again on renewal. Post-arrival costs (Fomema medical check, SPIKPA insurance, personal accident insurance) vary by provider; RM 600 is an upper estimate. Tai Industries' service fee is RM 1,000 per worker and is charged for each worker brought in, so the total scales with the number of workers. All figures are estimates for reference only; a final quotation is issued after consultation.
Not included in these figures: The list of items not included will be confirmed here
Paying workers correctly in Malaysia
Malaysian wage rules will differ from what you are used to. Our payroll standard sets out the minimum basic wage of RM 1,700 per month, the 45-hour working week with 1 rest day, overtime at 1.5×, 2.0× and 3.0× of the hourly rate, and the EPF and PERKESO contributions.
See the full figures on our foreign worker minimum wage and OT rates page.
| Overtime category | Multiplier | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary rate (per day) | 1-day basis | RM 65.38 / day |
| Hourly rate | 1-hour basis | RM 8.17 / hour |
| Normal-day OT | 1.5× hourly rate | RM 12.26 / hour |
| Rest-day work (rest-day OT) | 2.0× hourly rate | RM 16.35 / hour |
| Public holiday work | 3.0× hourly rate | RM 24.52 / hour |
Company requirements
What your company needs in place before applying for foreign workers.
FAQ
Questions from Chinese business owners
I don’t know the Malaysian system. Where do I start?
Start with a conversation in Mandarin. We explain the 8 official steps, the government portals involved (such as MyFuture Jobs and FWCMS) and the costs, in plain language.
Do I have to use the government portals myself?
No. We handle the government portals for you, from the MyFuture Jobs advertisement to the eQuota application in FWCMS.
What does it cost per worker?
An estimated RM 3,655 per Bangladeshi worker: RM 2,655 in permit and government fees plus our RM 1,000 service fee. See the full fee breakdown.
Guides
Related guides
- Draft
How to hire foreign workers in Malaysia: the 8-step process
How to hire foreign workers in Malaysia: the 8 official steps from the MyFuture Jobs advertisement to arrival, how long each stage takes and what it costs.
Updated - Draft
Hiring foreign workers as a Chinese-owned company in Malaysia
Hiring foreign workers as a Chinese-owned company in Malaysia: the 8 official steps, the timeline, the cost per worker and the wage rules explained.
Updated - Draft
Glossary: FWCMS, JTKSM, Section 60K and eQuota explained
FWCMS, JTKSM, Section 60K and eQuota explained in plain English, with the other terms employers meet when applying for foreign workers in Malaysia.
Updated
Contact
Tell us how many workers you need
Message us on WhatsApp, call our Cheras office or send an enquiry. We reply in English or 中文.