Human resources minister M Saravanan said the Cabinet also agreed to postpone the multi-tier levy from Jan 1 to July 1, 2022 to reduce the burden on employers.

In a statement, Saravanan said the sectors open to foreign workers will be the plantation, agriculture, manufacturing, services, mining and quarrying, construction and the domestic service.

“In view of the recruitment and to curb the spread of Covid-19, the human resources ministry will collaborate with the health ministry and the National Security Council to fine tune SOPs on the entry of foreign workers.

“This includes SOPs on quarantine. There will be no compromise on safety and health.”

Saravanan had reportedly said before that Malaysia was facing a critical problem of shortage of workers in five 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) sectors, namely plantation, manufacturing, construction, agriculture and services due to poor response from the locals.

He said the Cabinet also agreed to an MoU with the Bangladesh expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister, Imran Ahmad on recruiting Bangladeshis to work in Malaysia.

“Their entry will be allowed after the MoU is signed,” he said.