The Human Resources Ministry (MOHR) has announced a major overhaul of Malaysia’s foreign worker management system, introducing a new digital application format under a restructured One Stop Centre (OSC) now placed under the ministry’s supervision.
According to the ministry, the Cabinet, in a meeting on July 1, 2026, agreed to position the Foreign Workers Management One Stop Centre under MOHR, marking a key shift in governance and operational control.
As part of the reforms, MOHR said it will centralise foreign worker quota applications through the eQuota module under the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), a government-appointed single digital platform for managing foreign worker applications in Malaysia.
The ministry said the integration of FWCMS with existing government systems is expected to streamline processing, reduce congestion at the OSC and introduce a more structured interview scheduling system based on capacity.
In the longer term, MOHR is also exploring online document verification to replace physical counter-based processes.
The new system will first process 22,476 pending quota applications from 548 companies that were previously submitted manually for approval under Section 60K of the Employment Act 1955.
MOHR will also issue a nationwide notice requiring employers to complete registration on FWCMS, obtain Section 60K approval and submit quota applications fully online moving forward.
Under the revised framework, priority will be given to job advertising for local workers via the MYFutureJobs portal, alongside strict compliance with labour requirements under Section 60K, before employers can proceed with foreign worker applications at the OSC.
While the digital transition is underway, foreign worker quota processing will continue at the OSC at Aras 5, Setia Perkasa 9, Kompleks Setia Perkasa, Putrajaya until a new, more strategic location is identified.
MOHR also confirmed the establishment of a dedicated Foreign Worker Management Division to oversee OSC operations, policy execution and enforcement, with staffing to be redeployed from existing personnel under the Home Ministry’s OSC structure. Further inter-ministerial discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs and related agencies are ongoing.
In a further move to strengthen the ecosystem, the Cabinet has also agreed for MOHR to study the establishment of a Foreign Worker Transit Centre to manage incoming workers more efficiently. The ministry said it will conduct stakeholder engagement sessions with labour-sending countries and benchmark best practices from nations such as Singapore, South Korea and several Middle Eastern economies.
The reforms form part of a broader push to modernise Malaysia’s foreign worker management system, improve governance efficiency and reduce administrative bottlenecks while ensuring stronger protection of the local labour market.
