The stories shaping Malaysia, in focus.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the Human Resources Ministry to urgently process 15,000 outstanding foreign worker applications. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the directive, signalling government efforts to address labour shortages across critical sectors.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the Ministry of Human Resources to expedite the processing of 15,000 foreign worker applications, aiming to resolve workforce gaps in critical industries and sustain economic momentum.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has charged twelve people, including company owners and a married couple, with submitting fraudulent claims to PERKESO's Daya Kerjaya 2.0 employment incentive programme across three states.
Malaysia's business federation has welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's directive to fast-track foreign worker applications for the restaurant sector within 30 days, signalling government responsiveness to industry pressures amid persistent labour shortages.
Indonesia's rising layoff figures have prompted the government to establish a mitigation task force and explore immediate interventions, while labour unions and economists debate whether short-term relief or broader economic reforms offer the best path forward.
Bank Negara Malaysia has flagged concerns that wage growth is falling behind productivity gains, signalling the need to overhaul how the country's wage-setting system operates to ensure workers benefit from economic expansion.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan has reaffirmed that Malaysian workers must receive priority for available positions before employers recruit foreign labour, contingent on compliance with national regulations.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has ordered relevant ministries to resolve pending foreign worker applications within one month, with restaurants receiving priority as they grapple with acute staffing shortages affecting operations.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has directed relevant ministries to resolve foreign worker employment application bottlenecks within a month, focusing on the restaurant sector while maintaining controlled immigration policies.
A Ministry of Human Resources study across three major Malaysian regions demonstrates that flexible work arrangements substantially improve worker productivity and operational efficiency, prompting the government to expand tax incentives for adopting companies.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has encouraged Malaysia's estimated 1.2 million gig economy workers to pursue technical and vocational training to enhance career prospects beyond ride-hailing and delivery work.
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Malaysia's government has made the LINDUNG 24 Jam non-employment injury scheme voluntary for local workers while maintaining mandatory contributions for foreign workers, following public feedback on the initiative.
Malaysia's government has confirmed the mandatory retirement age for civil servants will remain at 60, rejecting calls for an increase. The Cabinet also made PERKESO insurance contributions voluntary rather than compulsory.
Malaysia's Human Resources Ministry has fully transitioned foreign worker quota applications to a digital eQuota platform, replacing ad-hoc approvals with a standardised system. The shift follows a Cabinet restructuring placing the Foreign Worker One-Stop Centre under KESUMA.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has announced that Malaysia will restructure its foreign worker management framework to improve coordination, operational efficiency, and alignment with sectoral requirements.
Malaysia's unemployment rate improved to 2.9% last year from 3.2% in 2024, driven largely by expanded vocational training programmes and skills development initiatives championed by the government.
Malaysia's government will restructure its foreign worker management system to improve coordination and efficiency while protecting local employment opportunities, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid announced following a Cabinet Committee meeting.
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Malaysia's Cabinet will hold a dedicated meeting on foreign worker issues, with Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi chairing the Putrajaya committee. The move addresses escalating concerns in sectors including food and beverage.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will chair a Cabinet committee meeting next week to address growing foreign worker challenges, particularly impacting Malaysia's food and beverage sector.
Malaysia's Cabinet will convene a dedicated committee meeting next week to address mounting foreign worker challenges across multiple sectors, with Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi chairing discussions on labour supply and management.