Categories: Malaysia

In Malaysia, more than 90% of foreign workers have not provided regulatory-compliant housing

KUALA LUMPUR: Accommodation that complies with the provisions of the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 or Act 446 is not provided to about 91.1 percent or 1.4 million foreign workers in Malaysia, said Malaysian Minister of Human Resources M Saravanan on Thursday (Dec 3).

Saravanan said he found “very worrying” statistics, particularly with the current COVID-19 pandemic.

He added that only 143,587 foreign workers, or 8.83 percent of the 1.6 million foreign workers in Malaysia as of Oct 31, had received applications for accommodation certificates from the government.

Saravanan, who spoke to reporters at a press conference on Thursday, said This situation clearly shows that employers and providers of centralized accommodation for 1.4 million foreign workers in Malaysia still do not apply for a certificate from the Department of Manpower Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM).

Also present was Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Saravanan said enforcement would be carried out and action against errant employers would also be taken.

Since the) enforcement of Act 446 last Sep 1, 1, 1,850 inspections were carried out by JKTSM involving 1,813 employers and 37 centralized providers of accommodation throughout the Labuan Peninsula and Federal Territory.’

“JTKSM is targeting 25,000 inspections by 2021,” he said.

Ismail Sabri, who is also chairman of the Foreign Workers Cabinet Committee, said the accommodation certificate would be a prerequisite for employers planning to hire new foreign workers as of 1 July 2021.

The employer must obtain a certificate from the Ministry of Human Resources to enable the Malaysian Immigration Department to issue a visa before the employer makes an application to bring in foreign workers.

“This means that employers are required to make available accommodation that complies with Act 4467 before foreign workers arrive in the country. Otherwise, foreign workers are (considered) illegal immigrants,” said Ismail Sabri.

Tags: workers
Katherine S

1/4 German, 3/4 Malaysian. I write, follow and monitor closely political news happening in Malaysia, and other happening news in the ASEAN region. Newswriter for the best ASEAN news website - The Asian Affairs.

View Comments

  • Many thanks for being the lecturer on this subject. I enjoyed
    your current article quite definitely and most of all enjoyed
    the way you handled the issues I thought to be controversial.
    You happen to be always rather kind towards readers much like me
    and assist me to in my living. Thank you.

Recent Posts

UAEU Ranked #1 in UAE: 2026 THE Asia University Rankings Results

United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has made history in the academic field of the Middle East. The institution has also…

April 25, 2026

How and Where to Watch High School Horror Drama “If Wishes Could Kill” in Southeast Asia?

If Wishes Could Kill, a hit Korean horror thriller, has taken Southeast Asia by storm since its launch on April…

April 25, 2026

K-Drama: The “Perfect Crown” Episode 5 & 6 Leak – What Really Happens

Online buzz has been swirling around the K-drama The Perfect Crown after the release of Episodes 5 and 6 this…

April 25, 2026

Why Gen Z is Spending Thousands to Bring Back ‘Dumbphones’ and Wired Tech

A counter-culture that seems to appear out of nowhere is in the age of foldable screens and super-fast processors. The…

April 25, 2026

How to Maximize a 48-Hour Trip to Ha Long for the 2026 Carnival

Ha Long Carnival 2026 has officially begun today in Vietnam. The carnival is taking place in Ha Long City in…

April 25, 2026

Murakami’s Return: Why ‘The Tale of Kaho’ is Already Breaking Pre-Order Records in Japan This Morning

It is a historic announcement that the literary world is simply rising up and geared up to make bibliophiles and…

April 25, 2026

This website uses cookies.

Read More