PUTRAJAYA: In a move to create a more responsible and transparent system for managing foreign workers, the government now requires employers to personally ensure their workers are properly sent home, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Speaking after a joint committee meeting between the Home Ministry and the Human Resources Ministry, Saifuddin stressed the need for stronger accountability. “We’ve agreed to tighten the handling of the Check-Out Memo for foreign workers. From now on, employers must be physically present at international exit points when their workers return home. Just like when they arrive, their departure must be properly managed too,” he said.
This change means employers can no longer leave the process of repatriation solely in the hands of agents or third parties. “If employers fail to comply, they risk having future applications for foreign worker quotas denied or delayed,” he added.
In a significant shift, the government has also lifted the restriction on changing employers across different job sectors. Previously, workers could only transfer to another company within the same industry, and only under specific conditions such as company closure or restructuring.
“This new policy now opens the door for workers to be transferred across sectors, which brings more flexibility for businesses and fairness for workers. It’s a step in line with international labour standards already followed in many developed nations,” Saifuddin said.
He concluded by calling on all employers and stakeholders to take note of these updates and ensure full compliance moving forward, emphasizing that the new policies are designed to protect everyone—businesses, workers, and the integrity of the system.
