…The government made a mistake last year in relaxing the conditions for employers in five sectors to hire migrant workers, according to the national association of private employment agencies (Papsma).

Papsma president Kris Foo said the government’s decision in January last year allowed the process of bringing in migrant workers to be expedited.

This then led to certain employers taking advantage of the relaxed rules by requesting quotas of migrant workers that exceeded their needs, she claimed.

Foo also said the government frequently changed policy on migrant workers, leaving room for manipulation and exploitation by deceitful parties, citing a case involving 171 Bangladeshis in Johor last month.

“The government should instead be firmer with its policies. You can’t open up (applications) for a year and then close it, as it would cause worry to employers, who have long-term plans in mind…

In January 2023, Putrajaya loosened the conditions for the hiring of migrant workers in the manufacturing, construction, plantations, agriculture, as well as food and beverage sectors.

Then human resources minister V Sivakumar said applications through the ministry’s foreign worker centralised management system would be processed and approved within three working days…