By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, Oct 1: The Sarawak Foreign Worker Transformation Approach (FWTA) has significantly reduced the processing period for the recruitment of non-resident workers from 191 days to just 60 days, marking a major improvement in workforce management efficiency.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring), Datuk Gerawat Gala, said the reduction reflects the effectiveness of FWTA in streamlining labour recruitment procedures and addressing the manpower needs of key industries across the State.
“For non-resident workers, particularly those in the labour sector, processing time has been shortened from 191 days to 60 days. We are continuing our efforts to further reduce the turnaround time,” he said during the closing ceremony of the SCSIMon Industry Update Miri on Wednesday (Sept 30).
Gerawat noted that an efficient labour recruitment system is critical to supporting Sarawak’s economic growth ambitions, with the state targeting an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from RM141 billion currently to RM282 billion by 2030.
He said FWTA was established to facilitate and expedite the recruitment of workers required by industries to sustain operations and support business expansion.
The government, he added, has also taken note of industry feedback, including a proposal to establish a dedicated email channel to enable employers to communicate directly with the Immigration and Labour Management Unit (ILMU) on workforce-related matters.
According to Gerawat, close collaboration between the government and industry stakeholders remains essential to ensuring that FWTA continues to meet the practical needs of employers while maintaining effective workforce governance.
“This is not about the government opposing industry or employers. We are all working towards the same goal. What we need is better communication, stronger coordination and a sustainable approach to managing non-resident workers,” he said.
He encouraged employers and industry players to raise any concerns directly with FWTA or ILMU so that issues can be promptly referred to the relevant government agencies for follow-up action.
Gerawat also said engagement sessions with industry stakeholders would continue on a regular basis to gather feedback and further enhance the implementation of FWTA. — DayakDaily
