IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? The Malaysia Expatriate Talent Service Centre will soon begin accepting projections from ESD-registered companies on their 2018 needs for foreign knowledge workers.

What does the change mean? Companies that are registered with the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) should prepare to submit their requests for foreign workers for 2018.

  • Implementation time frame: The MYXpats Centre will begin accepting projections Oct. 1.
  • Visas/permits affected: Employment passes; professional visit passes.
  • Who is affected: ESD-registered companies planning on hiring foreign knowledge workers in 2018.

Background: Foreign knowledge worker projections must be approved before companies can apply for employment passes or professional visit passes. ESD-registered companies may begin submitting foreign knowledge worker projections to the MYXpats Centre beginning Oct. 1. The Malaysia Digital Economy Corp. has not yet said when it will begin accepting projections from MDEC-registered companies.

BAL Analysis: Companies should submit their foreign-worker projections for 2018 as early as possible and well before the end of the year if they intend to apply for employment passes or professional visit passes by the beginning of 2018. Companies expecting to hire large numbers of foreign workers should also anticipate the possibility of prolonged timelines if they are asked to submit additional documentation to support their requests for foreign workers.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Malaysia. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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