He said he recently held discussions with home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and domestic trade and cost of living minister Salahuddin Ayub on the matter, Bernama reported.

Sivakumar said he had submitted an appeal on the matter last week.

“Since January, several organisations and business associations (representing the textile merchants, barber shops and goldsmiths) had come to me and requested that the order not to renew the visas (of such foreign workers) be withdrawn.

“I hope due consideration will be given and a positive decision will be made immediately after the submission of the application to the two relevant ministers,” he told reporters today after officiating the 2nd International Tamil Classical Music Conference 2023 in Ipoh.

On Feb 28, the immigration department had issued a circular that employers in these three sub-sectors would no longer be allowed to renew PLKS permits for their employees from March 15, 2023.

The employers in these three sub-sectors say they require 15,000 foreign workers to carry on their business.