IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the reminder? The Malaysia Digital Economy Corp. (MDEC) and the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) have begun accepting projections from companies on their 2020 needs for foreign knowledge workers.

  • Implementation time frame: Immediate and ongoing.
  • Visas/permits affected: Employment passes; professional visit passes.
  • Who is affected: Companies registered with MDEC (companies with MSC and ICT status) or ESD.
  • Processing: MDEC processing times range from 14 to 20 business days; ESD processing times range from seven to 10 business days.
  • Business impact: Foreign knowledge worker projections must be approved before applying for employment passes and professional visit passes (both new and renewal).

Analysis & Comments: Companies should plan to submit their foreign-worker projections as early as possible to avoid the year-end holiday slowdown. Although there is no official deadline for filing, companies should aim to obtain approval by Dec. 31 to avoid any issues in submitting renewal applications, especially renewals for permits that expire in January, February or March.

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