Do You Need a Work Permit in Malaysia?
In Malaysia, the requirement for a work permit for foreign nationals is driven by a combination of economic, social, and regulatory factors that are specific to the country. Protecting employment opportunities for Malaysian citizens is a key priority. Given the country’s diverse and growing economy, the Malaysian government aims to ensure that its citizens have first access to job opportunities, especially in sectors where local expertise is sufficient. This policy helps to maintain low unemployment rates and supports the overall well-being of the Malaysian workforce.
Another crucial reason for the work permit requirement is to support Malaysia’s economic development and industrial goals. Malaysia is actively working to advance sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and services to compete globally. The work permit system allows the government to attract highly skilled foreign professionals who can fill critical skill gaps and drive innovation in these industries. This approach is essential for maintaining Malaysia’s competitive edge and fostering sustainable economic growth.
Compliance with labor laws and standards is a fundamental aspect of the Malaysian work permit system. The government uses this process to ensure that foreign workers are employed under conditions that comply with Malaysian labor regulations. This includes ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to social security benefits. By enforcing these standards, the government aims to prevent the exploitation of foreign workers and promote fair treatment for all employees in Malaysia.
Security considerations are also integral to the work permit requirement. The Malaysian government conducts thorough background checks and verification of qualifications to ensure that foreign workers do not pose security risks and have the necessary professional credentials. This scrutiny helps maintain national security and the integrity of the Malaysian workforce.
The work permit system also supports Malaysia’s broader social and economic objectives. By regulating the entry and employment of foreign workers, Malaysia can better manage the economic impact and social integration of these individuals. This regulation helps to maintain social harmony and supports the government’s goals of balanced development and cultural integration.
About The Malaysia Job Market
Expatriates who wish to work in Malaysia should have more details about the Malaysian job market or the kind of industries that are booming there.
Number of Expats:
2,965,300
Expats Job Websites:
Popular Industries for Expats:
IT, Engineering, Banking and Finance, Teaching, Marketing and Tourism.
Types of Malaysia Work Permit Available
Working in Malaysia without work permit is not possible as the country has special work passes and schemes called an Employment pass. These passes differ depending on the nature and length of employment.
Employment Pass:
This is the most common type of Malaysian work permit for foreign workers. It enables them to take up employment under a contract in a Malaysian company.
To employ foreign workers, the employers need to get approval through the Expatriate Committee to hire an employee and obtain their visa. You need to have a specific skill set to fit into technical or managerial level jobs.
It is divided into three categories, based on monthly salary and duration of the work contracts:
Category I: Those with a monthly salary of at least RM10,000 and a 5-year work contract.
Category II: Those with a monthly base salary of above RM5,000 and a work contract of up to 2 years.
Category III: Those with a monthly salary between RM 3,000 and RM 5,000 and a work contract of up to a year or less.
Temporary Employment Pass:
This pass is given to semi-skilled workers in specific sectors. Employees need to meet certain qualifications to get this Malaysian work permit.
It is further divided into two categories- Foreign worker temporary employment pass and Foreign domestic helpers (FDH) temporary employment pass.
Professional Visit Pass:
This pass is granted to qualified foreign workers allowing them to work in Malaysia on a temporary basis for up to 12 months.
So if you want to work in the country on a temporary basis, the professional visit pass is your answer to how can I get work permit in Malaysia.
Requirement for Malaysia Work Permit by Malaysian Employers
Since it is not possible to be working in Malaysia without work permit, it is the employer’s responsibility to issue the Employment Pass on behalf of their foreign employee. So there are certain requirements that employers have to fulfil.
- The employer has to submit an application for foreign worker quota approval.
- During the application, the employer has to justify why a foreigner would be apt for the position, also stating the benefits to the company.
- After the quota approval, the employee can issue a limited supply of Employment Passes to foreign employees.
- Your company should be operating in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, plantation and services industries in order to avail this opportunity.
- After submitting the application, an employer has to qualify for an interview with a representative from the Ministry for the company’s specified sector.
Employer has to submit these documents during the work permit sponsorship process:
- Application form for foreign workers quota
- Particulars of applicant company
- Details of employment structure
- Copy of employment contract with original stamp
- Job description for the position
- Memorandum and Articles of Association
- Additional documents related to sector/ Copy of approval from Malaysian agencies
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Requirement for Malaysia Work Permit by Employees
Once the employer offers an Employment Pass, the employee has to submit the following documents required to get a work permit in Malaysia:
- Valid passport
- Being above 27 years of age (except IT sector)
- Duly filled application form
- Original employment contract
- 3 recent passport-size photos
- Confirmation letter from the employer about salary and tax revenues
Malaysia Work Permit Application Process
Malaysia Employment Pass is the common form of work permit requested by employers. Here’s how the Malaysian work visa application process goes:
- As an employer, you need to apply to get approval for hiring foreign employees from official government agencies related to your sector.
- After the approval for the expatriate employee, the employer has to submit the Employment Pass application to the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
- The letter of approval is attached to the application for Employment Pass submitted to the employee.
- The employee can then apply for their visa depending on the field of work and the type of position held.
- Submit the necessary documents including qualifications, photos, passport, and work contract.
- Pay the visa fee. The Malaysia work permit visa fees for Indians may differ from the Malaysia work permit visa fees for Pakistani. So check for the fees carefully and make the payment.
- You will be notified when your work permit is approved. You can track the status of your Malaysia work permit visa online by providing the passport number on the website.
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