FMM In The News: FMT, May 9, 2025
PETALING JAYA:
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has welcomed the government’s decision to allow foreign workers to
change employers across different sectors, but says the success of the policy hinges on its practical execution.
FMM president Soh Thian Lai said operational guidelines must prioritise efficiency, transparency, and worker protections or risk undermining the policy’s goals amid a continued freeze on new foreign worker intake.
“As a responsible employer organisation and from a human resource management perspective, FMM underscores the importance of ensuring that the implementation of this policy aligns with both regulatory compliance and ethical workforce practices,” he said in a statement today.
He outlined several key recommendations to support implementation, including ensuring the portability of levy payments, centralised oversight by the immigration department, and full digital processing.
Soh also said the government should use the MyFutureJobs portal as a national clearing house for companies to transparently release or absorb surplus workers.
“Transfers must be based on the informed consent of the worker, free from coercion, and documented accordingly.
“A clear mechanism should exist to address grievances or disputes arising from such transfers,” he added.
Soh said the new policy could help ease acute labour shortages in sectors like manufacturing by enabling the redeployment of workers from sectors with excess manpower.
“This flexibility is crucial for industries struggling to maintain operations,” he said, expressing support as well for the decision to allow case-by-case applications in the manufacturing sector to replace workers who have left.
Soh said FMM looked forward to engaging further with the government to finalise the operational details.
“The success of this policy will depend on a balanced approach that meets both national workforce policy objectives and the real-world operational needs of employers while upholding the rights and welfare of the workers involved.”