KUALA LUMPUR: Industry associations have requested that the Visa With Reference (VDR) applications be extended to September from March 31 in order to meet their quota obligations.
Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan, said that the longer timeframe was necessary due to the complex and time-consuming process of hiring foreign personnel.
"He said it involves multiple stages such as candidate selection, passport application and medical tests before VDR application.
"The time given is very short and will cause problems for us to bring in workers. This month, we only have until Friday to manage everything," he said.
He hopes the government will consider extending the deadline for another six months.
Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Business Associations (FMBA) chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abdullah said that the sudden surge in demand for foreign workers had exacerbated the challenges.
"Even the Foreign Workers Centralised Management system, which handles the hiring process of foreign workers, has been stalled and dysfunctional for several days, complicating employers' data entry for their workers," he said.
He added they feared the rush to recruit foreign workers might lead to an abundance of unskilled foreign workers, resulting in substandard practices.
"Bringing in foreign workers is not easy because employers have to find those who are qualified.
"Sometimes we have to go to the workers' country and if rushed, those who are not fit for the job and not supposed to be brought in will be included.
"If we can't get an extension for up to six months, we request it to be extended to at least until the end of June," he said.
Also joining in the press conference today are Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association, Malaysian Indian Textiles & General Stores Association and Malaysian Association of Wellness & Spa.
Previously, the Home Ministry said employers were given three months to complete the legalisation process for foreign workers under the Workforce Recalibration Programme 2.0.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, said that employers in need of foreign workers were urged to expedite their applications after the process of hiring foreign workers had been facilitated.
On March 13, the Immigration Department announced on its website that VDR applications for approved quotas must be submitted before March 31.
Unused quotas will be cancelled, and payments will be refunded, while approved foreign workers must enter on or before May 31.