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How to hire foreign workers in Malaysia: the 8-step process
Last updated: Tai Industries
To hire foreign workers (pekerja asing) in Malaysia, an employer goes through 8 official steps, from advertising the job to locals on MyFuture Jobs to the worker's arrival. A new application takes approx. 4 months in total. For a Bangladeshi worker, the estimated cost is RM 3,655 per worker.
What are the 8 steps to hire foreign workers in Malaysia?
The steps run in a fixed order, and each one follows the one before it.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 01 | MyFuture Jobs ad posting and hiring outcome report |
| 02 | Apply FWE in the FWCMS system |
| 03 | Akujanji (undertaking) signing at JTKSM |
| 04 | Section 60K approval by JTKSM |
| 05 | Apply for eQuota in FWCMS |
| 06 | Interview at the KESUMA One Stop Centre |
| 07 | eQuota approval by KESUMA |
| 08 | Recruitment and arrival of the foreign worker |
The vacancy is advertised to locals first on MyFuture Jobs, the national job portal. The FWE and eQuota applications are both made in FWCMS, the Foreign Workers Centralized Management System. JTKSM is the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia, and KESUMA is the Ministry of Human Resources. Each step is explained on our page about how to apply for foreign workers in Malaysia.
How long does it take to hire a foreign worker?
A new application takes approx. 4 months in total. These are the stages we plan around:
| Stage | Approximate duration |
|---|---|
| MY PASS approval | approx. 1 month |
| eQuota approval (documents complete) | approx. 1.5 months |
| E-embassy processing | approx. 1.5–2.5 months |
All durations are approximate. They depend on the authorities' processing times and on your documents being complete when each stage opens.
Which parts does the employer do in person?
Two steps involve you directly. You sign the Akujanji, the employer's letter of undertaking, at JTKSM, and you attend the interview at the KESUMA One Stop Centre.
An agent can prepare and follow up the rest: the MyFuture Jobs advertisement and hiring outcome report, the FWE and eQuota applications in FWCMS, and the coordination through to arrival. That is the service Tai Industries provides for new Bangladeshi worker applications.
How much does it cost to hire a foreign worker?
For each Bangladeshi worker, permit and government fees are RM 2,655: an application subtotal of RM 2,055 plus up to RM 600 in post-arrival costs. Our service fee is RM 1,000 per worker, which brings the estimated total to RM 3,655.
The levy (levi) and the PLKS (Pas Lawatan Kerja Sementara) work permit are charged every year. The foreign worker cost breakdown lists every line item and has a calculator for your headcount.
What happens after the worker arrives?
After arrival, each worker needs a Fomema medical check, SPIKPA insurance and personal accident insurance. From then on, wages must follow Malaysia's rules on minimum wage, overtime, EPF and PERKESO, which are set out in our payroll standard.
Where should I start?
Start by confirming your headcount and timeline. With approx. 4 months from start to arrival, the date you need workers on site decides when the application should begin. Contact Tai Industries and we will explain the steps in English or Mandarin.