Malaysia to hire 2.47m foreign workers under new calling visa drive

The Malaysian government has announced a major recruitment drive to hire 24,67,756 foreign workers under a revised calling visa framework, with applications open until December 21, 2025. 

The move aims to address acute labour shortages across key economic sectors while tightening control over the hiring process.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed the decision following a joint committee meeting with the Ministry of Human Resources, stating that the recruitment will be strictly regulated and limited to 13 sub-sectors under three main industries: agriculture, plantation & mining; services; manufacturing and construction.

Under the new policy, foreign worker recruitment is strictly limited to targeted sectors with controlled access, focusing on industries facing critical labour shortages. 

In the agriculture, plantation and mining sector, hiring will cover sub-sectors such as rubber, palm oil, fisheries, and quarrying. The services sector includes permitted subcategories like wholesale and retail trade, warehousing, security services, scrap metal, restaurants, laundries, cargo handling, and building cleaning. 

In construction, foreign worker applications will be allowed only for government-led projects, while in manufacturing, eligibility is restricted to companies undertaking new investments approved by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), ensuring that hiring aligns with national economic growth and development goals

Crucially, the government has ended the previous practice of allowing direct applications from employers or third-party agents. Now, only official sectoral agencies can submit applications through their respective ministries to the Foreign Workers Technical Committee. After verification, proposals will go to the Joint Committee, co-chaired by the Home Minister and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, for final approval.

“This is to ensure transparency and prevent misuse,” Saifuddin said at a press conference at M Resort & Hotel in Bukit Kiara. “We will no longer allow just Tom, Dick and Harry to apply. Only verified, sector-specific applications will be accepted.”

The minister also outlined a long-term strategy to reduce Malaysia’s reliance on foreign labour. Under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the economy ministry has set a target to cap foreign workers at 10% of the total workforce, down from the current 15%.

Until December 3, 2025, the country will operate under the existing 15% ceiling, allowing for the recruitment of 24,67,756 foreign workers. From 2025, the quota will be gradually scaled down, with the government aiming to meet the 10% target by Q1 or Q2 of 2026.

While the announcement has sparked hope among labour-sending countries, including Bangladesh, no official breakdown has been released on how many workers from specific nations will be eligible. Malaysian authorities have not confirmed whether Bangladesh will be prioritized or how many visas might be allocated to its citizens.

Currently, Bangladesh is not among the top source countries for Malaysian foreign workers, which are dominated by nationals from Indonesia, Nepal, India, and Vietnam. However, with growing bilateral interest in labour cooperation, Dhaka may seek a share of the quota through formal diplomatic and trade channels.