Malaysia’s Foreign Worker Population Reaches 2.47 Million, Manufacturing Sector Leads

Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar revealed that as of September 30, 2024, there are 2.47 million active foreign workers employed across various sectors in Malaysia, with low-skilled labor dominating labor-intensive industries.

The data shows that the manufacturing sector employs the highest number of foreign workers (771,327), followed by construction (698,407), services (448,572), plantations (266,600), agriculture (183,086), domestic helpers (102,037), and mining and quarrying (752).

To reduce reliance on foreign labor, the government has implemented several measures, including freezing new foreign worker quota applications, introducing a multi-tier levy system, clearly defining industry-specific labor needs, strengthening technical and vocational education, and reskilling local workers through training funds provided by the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF).

The government also plans to review the minimum wage to align it with the current cost of living, aiming to attract more local workers to take up low-paying jobs.

These efforts align with the 12th Malaysia Plan, which aims to cap the number of foreign workers at 15% of the country’s total workforce.