By Hanthar Hein - Mar 26, 2025

The junta's Ministry of Labour announced on March 26 that for Malaysia-bound employment requests, each licensed overseas employment agency is now only allowed to submit applications for up to 20 workers per month.

Worker quota limits are being announced daily in state-run newspapers, with Thailand allowed 50 workers, Japan 15, South Korea 10, and Singapore 5. Malaysia has now been capped at 20 workers.

Most Malaysian employers have suspended the hiring of foreign workers currently, including those from Myanmar.

“Only 20 workers are allowed for Malaysia. Malaysia has also paused hiring foreign workers. Only East Malaysia is accepting workers, so we have time to prepare demand letters. But with age and worker number restrictions, it won’t be easy for agencies to resume even if Malaysia reopens,” a representative from a licensed agency said.

Malaysia suspended foreign worker recruitment, including from Myanmar, on June 1, 2024. However, East Malaysia is still accepting foreign workers.

According to the junta’s announcement, any demand letters submitted before January 30, 2025, with more than 20 workers listed must be revised and resubmitted. Applications are allowed once per month per agency.

New demand letter submissions will be accepted starting from May 2.