PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has proposed the setting up of a one-stop centre so that employers’ applications for the temporary employment visit pass (PLKS) for foreign workers can be facilitated.
Its president, Syed Hussain Syed Husman, said the one-stop centre would assist employers to apply for a Certificate of Completion & Compliance (CCC), Certificate of Accommodation (CA) and PLKS.
It would also speed up the application and approval process by the relevant agencies, he added.
Syed Hussain noted that the proposal to require employers to obtain a CA from the labour department prior to recruitment or renewal of PLKS from the immigration department was impractical.
He said this could stifle government efforts to mobilise the private sector as the nation’s engine of growth for economic recovery.
Syed Hussain added that the proposed requirement would pose difficulties and complications for applications in terms of recruitment of foreign workers or the renewal of their work permits.
He said this would also cause further delays in the approval process, which will cause disruptions in business continuity.
He also said there seems to be a lack of coordination among the local authorities, labour department and relevant authorities on matters related to the approval of workers’ housing. This had resulted in difficulties for employers in obtaining the CCC from local authorities and CA from the labour department.
“Recruitment of foreign workers is essential for manpower planning in industries that require them since local workers are not interested in such work.
“As such, speedy approval for PLKS by the immigration department is important to allow companies to plan their operations and meet the demands for products and services from clients,” he said in a statement.
Syed Hussain said MEF was of the view that a letter of undertaking by companies to comply with the Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) should be sufficient enough to be a prerequisite for approval of PLKS.
He added that the roles of the immigration department, labour department and other relevant authorities should facilitate rather than prohibit or restrict employers from doing business.
Meanwhile, Syed Hussain also raised the issue of the high cost for employers to provide housing for workers in accordance with Act 466.
“Act 446 was implemented during Covid-19 when most employers faced a lot of challenges trying to meet such housing standards requirements under the new Act.
“The authorities should give adequate time for businesses to stabilise and gradually comply with the full requirements of Act 446,” he said.