Employers of foreign workers can pay health examination fees online

Good news for employers of foreign workers in Malaysia - as of yesterday, workers' health health examination fees can now be paid online via the Foreign Workers Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (Fomema) employers' portal.

Fomema's chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Hatar Ismail said the facility was introduced to enable employers conduct their businesses faster and more efficiently via the portal at https://portal.fomema.my/, The Sun Daily reported.

With this internet facility, there is no longer the need to use a scanner to scan related documents as conducted during the conventional registration process at Fomema branches, Datuk Mohd Hatar Ismail said.

"All employers have to do is to open an account for user identity and password and register their foreign workers online via Financial Process Exchange (FPX), namely, a payment channel provided for 15 participating banks," he explained.

He said the existing registration method at all Fomema branches was still being continued to accommodate those employers who did not have internet facility, The Sun Daily reported.

HR Minister: Malaysia is keen to hire Bangladeshi workers

In other foreign worker news, during a meeting with Bangladesh’s Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam in Dhaka, Malaysian Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Anak Jaem said the country would take workers from Bangladesh 'very soon' initially in three sectors –construction, plantation and manufacturing.

According to reports from bdnews24.com, a ministry statement stated, the two sides agreed on a government-fixed rate for sending workers to Malaysia.

Additionally, the ministers discussed the possibility of sending workers through recruiting agencies that had been listed earlier by the ministry.

ALSO READ: 1.85 million foreign workers in Malaysia

Earlier in February, just twelve hours after signing of an agreement between Riot and Nurul on Feb 18, Malaysia had announced that it would not take any foreign worker, which left the deal in a limbo, bdnews24.com reported.

Later in September, Malaysia lifted the ban partially by announcing that it would allow importing manpower in four sectors - construction, plantation, manufacturing and furniture-making industries.

Malaysia is one of Bangladesh's most important labour markets.

The Expatriates’ Welfare ministry statement said that Minister Nurul vowed to uproot the 'syndicate of agents' that dupes workers seeking jobs in Malaysia.

"We will not give the opportunity to only a few recruiting agencies, but ensure sending of workers through the experienced and renowned ones those who had sent workers earlier," the statement quoted the minister as saying in the meeting.

MTUC: Employers should consider granting unrecorded leave to staff affected by flooding

In other news, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) urges private sector employers to consider granting unrecorded leave to employees who are affected by the high tide which hit some coastal areas since Monday.

According to reports from The Sun Daily, MTUC deputy secretary-general A. Balasubramaniam told Bernama that this was one way of easing the difficulties faced by staff living in areas at high risk of flooding due to high tide which is expected to last until Friday.

READ MORE: MTUC continues to push for 6-hour work day

"Some residents in Batu 5, Kapar were affected during the last wave of high tide in October where their homes were inundated by flood waters, he said.

"Some could not go to work as the roads were flooded," he told Bernama.

Balasubramaniam added that private sector employers should consider granting unrecorded leave for their employees affected by high tide, and consider it as their social responsibility.

Areas that are at high risk of flooding includes the Klang and Sabak Bernam districts. While Kuala Selangor, Kuala Langat and Sepang are also under threat.

Photo / 123RF