Speaking to reporters here, Johari said the decision, conveyed to him by home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, was reached after Saifuddin’s meeting with human resources minister Steven Sim on Jan 16.

Foreign worker recruitment has been frozen since March 17, 2023.

“The (home) ministry has agreed that apart from the plantation sector, foreign workers will not be allowed to enter (Malaysia),” said Johari, adding that the industry is facing a shortage of 40,000 workers.

“But for the plantation industry, it (foreign worker intake) is open,” he said at a press conference after attending the Malaysian Palm Oil Board’s Excellence Awards ceremony here.

During the Jan 16 meeting between Sim and Saifuddin, it was agreed that the duration for foreign worker recruitment applications be reduced from 29 months and 13 days to 15 months and 23 days.

Johari told potential employers in the plantation sector that their applications to hire foreign workers would be scrutinised to ensure that Malaysia is not accused of involvement in forced labour and human trafficking.

“Anyone bringing in foreign workers must ensure that they have proper living arrangements,” said Johari.

“If an employer brings in workers and they don’t have jobs when they arrive, the employer will still have to pay these workers’ salaries.”

Johari also announced a RM100 million allocation to assist smallholders under a replanting financing incentive scheme being handled by Agrobank.