Introduction
The shortage of foreign workers, whether skilled, semi-skilled or lowly-skilled, is a hot topic among businesses in all sectors. This issue was presented in the Budget 2023 on 7 October 2022, where several initiatives will be introduced to improve the country's unemployment rate and solve the lack of foreign talent.
However, since Parliament had been dissolved on 10 October 2022, a caretaker government has come into effect, and the Budget 2023 will have to be re-tabled once the new government has been formed after the elections.
Nonetheless, the existing initiatives/ facilities introduced by the government/ relevant authorities prior to the Budget 2023 still be carried out to ensure no disruptions which are essential for the country’s economic prospects.
New Facilities
To address the shortage of Foreign Talent in Malaysia, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (“MDEC”) and the Malaysian Immigration Department (“MID”) have introduced the following new facilities:
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DE Rantau programme |
Permission to work for foreign professionals with Social Visit Pass (PLS@XPATS) |
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Overview: |
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The DE Rantau programme aims at establishing Malaysia as the preferred digital nomad hub in ASEAN while boosting digital adoption and promoting digital professional mobility and tourism across the country. Digital nomads can travel and work remotely across various locations in Malaysia, while accessing stable broadband connectivity and various other facilities and services that support the nomadic lifestyle. |
Those who require foreign professionals urgently will be able to have them enter Malaysia under a social visit pass with permission to work for emergency and critical work. |
