PM Anwar's Directive On Foreign Restaurant Workers Shows Govt Listens To Industry Concerns - FMBA

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Malaysian Business Associations (FMBA) has commended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's directive to resolve outstanding foreign worker employment applications, with priority for the restaurant sector, within a month.

The federation said this demonstrated the administration's willingness to listen to ground-level industry voices and translate concerns into concrete, time-bound action.

The FMBA said the government's decision to set a one-month timeframe, while cautioning against over-reliance on unskilled foreign labour, reflected a balanced approach between compassion for struggling businesses and the long-term national interest.

“For months, FMBA and our member associations representing thousands of restaurants and food-service operators across the country have voiced deep concern over the prolonged delays in foreign worker application approvals - delays that have directly threatened business continuity, service quality, and the livelihoods of local employees who depend on a fully functioning workforce ecosystem,” the federation said in a statement today.

It noted that the restaurant and food-and-beverage industry is one of the largest employers among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, and chronic worker shortages have placed immense strain on operators, especially mamak and neighbourhood eateries that form the backbone of everyday Malaysian life.

FMBA said it believes the timely intervention will restore operational stability, protect jobs and reinforce investor and operator confidence in the sector.

Meanwhile, it has urged the government not to proceed with the implementation of the Universal Recruitment Advanced Platform (TURAP) at this juncture, saying it could increase operating costs for businesses, particularly SMEs, which are already facing rising expenses in labour, utilities, transportation and compliance.

The Prime Minister, when launching the Indian Muslim Transformational Framework (IMTF) 2030 in Butterworth recently, acknowledged the urgent labour shortages faced by restaurant operators nationwide and directed the relevant ministries and departments to prioritise pending applications.

-- BERNAMA