By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Oct 19: From Oct 1, 2025 to Sept 30, 2026, the overall average processing time per application through Foreign Workers Transformation Approach (FWTA) has reduced from 80 days to 43 days.
Minister in the Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai pointed out that under the FWTA charter, the benchmark processing time for complete applications requiring no further clarification is set at 61 days.
“Verified operational data recorded over the past four quarters, from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026, demonstrates a consistent and substantial improvement in end-to-end processing speed across Approval in Principle (AP), Labour Licence (LL), and eVDR (e-Visa Dengan Rujukan) stages.”
“Across this one-year period, the overall average processing time per application dropped from 80 days to 43 days, a reduction of 37 days that outperforms our 61 days benchmark by 18 days,” said Sikie when delivering ministerial winding up speech at Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) here today.
He said in terms of total application volume and processing speed recorded during this period, about 95.24 per cent were processed within 30 days while 2.66 per cent were completed within 30 to 60 days, meaning over 97.9 per cent of all completed new applications met or beat the 60-day threshold, while 2.1 per cent required more than 60 days due to incomplete documentations and information submitted by applicants.
For renewal applications, an overwhelming 99.63 were processed within 30 days. Only 0.23 per cent took between 30 to 60 days, and just 0.14 per cent exceeded 60 days, Sikie (GPS-PRS) added.
From an economic standpoint, he said, these operational gains translate directly into tangible financial and productivity benefits for employers across Sarawak.
“By cutting average turnaround times by more than a month, businesses can mobilise their workforce significantly faster, preventing costly project bottlenecks and minimising revenue losses caused by labour shortages, particularly in time-sensitive sectors such as construction, plantation, and manufacturing.”
“Furthermore, the near-instantaneous certainty of a 99.63% within-30-day renewal rate ensures uninterrupted workforce continuity, protects ongoing commercial operations, and lowers administrative overhead,” said Sikie.
He believed that predictable, transparent approval timelines ultimately empower employers to bid for contracts with greater confidence, optimise cash flow, and plan capital expenditure with certainty. –DayakDaily
