KUALA LUMPUR, December 1 – The number of legally registered foreign workers in Malaysia fell by 13 per cent to 2.13 million as of October 15, compared to 2.45 million a year ago, reflecting the government’s drive to curb reliance on foreign labour.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the manufacturing and construction sectors remain the largest employers of foreign workers, while recruitment is limited to six key sectors under current policy.
He added that Malaysia aims to reduce foreign worker dependency to 10 per cent by 2030 and five per cent by 2035, supported by initiatives such as the Multi-Tier Levy system and expanded Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes to strengthen local workforce capabilities.
