RM1,854 fee for hiring foreign workers covers full FWTA ecosystem, not just processing costs

2 weeks ago 150

ADVERTISE HERE

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, Dec 1: The RM1,854 fee imposed on employers for hiring foreign workers in Sarawak is not merely a processing charge but a cost recovery mechanism for a comprehensive ecosystem under the Foreign Workers Transformation Approach (FWTA), Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai clarified today.

Responding to a query from the Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting, Sikie said digitalisation is only one segment of a much larger ecosystem aimed at bringing integrated services “right to the doorstep” of employers and foreign workers.

Sikie noted that the entire FWTA project is implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with all capital development fully financed by the private sector.

“The fees collected are used to enhance and upgrade the various components of the ecosystem, which require substantial initial investment such as the development of facilities (ILCs), the FWTA platform, and related services. These investments are intended to help employers reduce their operational costs in managing the hiring of foreign workers.

“Therefore, the investment incurred must be recovered through a reasonable fee structure, charged to employers who hire foreign workers for their operations and projects in Sarawak,” he explained.

He added that based on a Cost and Benefit Analysis (CBA) verified by relevant State agencies, the appropriate fee to recover the investment is RM1,854 per foreign worker hired.

“It must be emphasised here that this fee covers the cost for preparing, providing and maintaining all the necessary infrastructure and infostructure throughout the State in order to deliver the services to employers in hiring foreign workers and again not merely the cost for processing fees associated in the issuance of Approval in Principle (AP), Labour License, Visa Dengan Rujukan (VDR), Medical Screening, and issuance of Non-Sarawakian Identity Card (NSIC).

“I trust this explanation will clarify the misconception that the costs incurred are purely for the processing fees in the application for foreign workers,” he asserted. – DayakDaily

Read Entire Article