The Malaysian government is set to launch a digital platform that enables employers to hire foreign workers directly, eliminating the need for private recruitment agents that have traditionally controlled the process.

The initiative, announced by Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister, Datuk Ramakrishnan, aims to reduce recruitment costs, prevent exploitation, and enhance transparency in the country’s foreign labour market. The report was covered by Economic Times and The Malaysian Reserve, as sighted by PUNCH Online on Tuesday.

Ramakrishnan highlighted that reliance on intermediaries has often subjected foreign workers to excessive recruitment fees, debt bondage, and other forms of modern slavery.

“The issue has been raised repeatedly in Parliament and highlighted in the media. We want to eliminate the middleman problem,” he said.

Under the new system, employers will connect directly with prospective foreign workers through a centralised digital platform. Job descriptions, wages, and employment conditions will be clearly displayed and agreed upon before contracts are signed, reducing the risk of misrepresentation and exploitation.

The platform is expected to streamline the hiring process, lower recruitment costs, and improve oversight of foreign labour recruitment in Malaysia, marking a significant shift from the agent-driven model that has long dominated the sector.