Two industry groups in Malaysia have urged Malaysia to resolve problems in the recruitment process of foreign workers as the business community was struggling with delays, reports Free Malaysia Today. In separate statements, the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) and Malaysian Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) said the slow arrival of workers would further derail business recovery and sustainability of operations as the country continues to recover from the pandemic. NCCIM president Soh Thian Lai called for all processes to be conducted virtually through a single online system to increase efficiency and shorten the waiting time for applications, thus expediting the intake of workers. Lai said that while the employer interview process has become more organised and efficient, he said the lengthy period for visa approvals created a further bottleneck in the recruitment process.

Meanwhile, MBAM urged Malaysia to let Construction Labour Exchange Centre Bhd handle all applications for foreign workers from the industry, rather than having to go through the human resources ministry.