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Daily Express
16-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
System to manage non-resident workers
Published on: Friday, May 16, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 16, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Rosli (second left) officiates the launch of the eNores system. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Department of Labour (JTK) has introduced a new system called the Integrated Non-Resident Employment Management System (eNORES), which will provide a comprehensive solution for managing the employment of non-resident workers in the State. The launch of eNORES took place in conjunction with the Sabah Tripartite Labour Convention, involving 400 participants, on Wednesday. Advertisement Sabah JTK Director Wan Zulkifli Wan Setapa said the system is expected to have a significant impact on more than 187,000 employers and workers in Sabah, including those working illegally or without proper documentation. 'The eNORES system covers 12 core modules encompassing the entire process of worker management from recruitment and employment to repatriation,' he said. According to him, the launch of this system is a major step in ensuring more organized and effective management of foreign workers in the State. 'This system will also provide an opportunity for employers and workers to interact on a more structured and efficient platform,' Wan Zulkifli said. Alongside the launch of eNORES, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between JTK Sabah and seven regulatory agencies involved in the management of non-resident workers. Among the participating agencies were the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Sabah Department of Agriculture, and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). Wan Zulkifli further commenting, this MoU allows all regulatory agencies to access relevant data from the system, enabling them to plan and implement more effective policies and decisions regarding the management of foreign workers in the State. The signing of the MoU was witnessed by the Director-General of the National Digital Department (JDN) under the Ministry of Digital Malaysia, Datuk Dr Fazidah Abu Bakar. In related developments, he said JTK Sabah also announced data-sharing partnerships through system integration with several parties such as SOCSO (MyFutureJobs), the Companies Commission of Malaysia (MySSM), and the Ministry of Home Affairs (NIISe). 'Through the system, we can ensure that over 2.1 million workers in the State, including undocumented workers, receive better benefits and protection,' he added. He also emphasised this data-sharing initiative aims to enhance transparency and effectiveness in managing non-resident workers in the State. 'It is expected to greatly benefit various stakeholders, including employers and workers, while ensuring that Sabah continues to progress in workforce management, especially in the rapidly advancing digital era,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
600,000 undocumented migrants working in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: There are an estimated 600,000 undocumented migrant workers in Sabah, the majority of whom are believed to be employed in the plantation sector. Sabah Federal Secretary Datuk Seri Rosli Isa, however, said that the figure is only an estimate, as the actual number remains uncertain. Earlier in his speech, Rosli said that the Sabah Labour Department (JTK) will use the Integrated Non-Resident Employment Management System (eNORES) to record unregistered workers. The eNORES is a comprehensive system designed to manage all aspects of non-resident worker employment from recruitment to employment, and eventually repatriation. "This system is expected to benefit 187,000 employers and 2.1 million workers, not including undocumented or illegal immigrants," said Rosli during the Sabah Tripartite Labour Convention: Sabah Labour Ordinance (Amendment) 2025, in conjunction with the Labour Education Roadshow Series 1/2025, here, today. The roadshow, which comprises eight key programmes, will run for seven days, starting in Kota Kinabalu and continuing to Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Tawau, Keningau, before concluding in Tenom on May 21. During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed to enable access to the eNORES system by seven regulatory agencies. These include the Sabah Chief Minister's Department's Office of Home Affairs and Research; Sabah Human Resource Development Department; Sabah Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR); Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA); Immigration Department of Malaysia; Sabah Agriculture Department; and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). "The purpose of this MoU is to allow these agencies to access data relevant to their respective departments, thereby facilitating policy-making and planning," said Rosli, noting that the ceremony was witnessed by the Director-General of the National Digital Department Datuk Dr Fazidah Abu Bakar. Rosli also announced that JTK Sabah has secured agreement for data-sharing via system integration with Perkeso's MyFutureJobs and ASSIST; the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM)'s MySSM; the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN)'s NIISe; and the National Registration Department (JPN). Other components of the programme include the Labour Convention, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and a dialogue session with 200 workers of Sabah Softwood Sdn Bhd plantation, focusing on the latest labour policies and legal updates in the state. Rosli added that an Anti-Trafficking and Forced Labour Awareness Outreach Programme will also be held in Kampung Kijang, Merotai Besar, Tawau, in collaboration with 350 local community leaders and villagers. "The government takes the issues of human trafficking and forced labour, such as job scams, very seriously. "Many victims of such scams are jobseekers living in remote areas with limited access to information," he said. "During this outreach, JTK Sabah, together with the police (PDRM) and the Sabah Immigration Department, will provide briefings and explanations on trafficking and forced labour issues to the villagers." A joint enforcement operation will be carried out in Keningau and Tenom as the final leg of the Labour Education Roadshow Series 1/2025. "A diplomatic and development-based approach is our main strategy, but punitive action will also be taken against any employer who refuses to comply with the law. This is to ensure the rights and welfare of workers are always protected," he stressed.
Borneo Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sabah targets undocumented workers with new labour system
Wan Zulkfli (second from left) and Rosli (second from right) giving their thumbs up at the event. KOTA KINABALU (May 14): The Sabah Labour Department (JTK Sabah) is developing a comprehensive system to manage the employment of non-resident workers — covering recruitment, employment and repatriation — through 12 key modules. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for access to the Integrated Management System for the Employment of Non-Resident Workers (eNORES) was signed on Wednesday with seven regulatory agencies directly involved in managing non-resident workers in Sabah. These agencies are State and Research Affairs Office, Chief Minister's Department; Sabah Human Resource Development Department; Industrial Development and Research Department (DIDR) Sabah; Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA); Malaysia Immigration Department; Sabah Agriculture Department; Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). 'The purpose of this MoU is to enable regulatory agencies to access relevant data, supporting policy development and implementation,' said Sabah Federal Secretary Dato' Seri Rosli Isa when officiating the launch of eNORES. The system is expected to benefit 187,000 employers and 2.1 million workers, excluding undocumented immigrants. Rosli disclosed that 2.1 million workers were registered in Sabah during the fourth quarter of last year. This figure includes both local workers and those holding a Social Visit Pass for employment purposes. He also estimated that around 600,000 undocumented migrant workers are currently in Sabah. 'This number is only an estimate, as the actual figure remains unknown,' he said, adding that most of these undocumented workers are employed in the plantation sector. Rosli also launched the Tripartite Convention on Sabah Labour: 2025 Sabah Labour Ordinance Act (Amendment), held in conjunction with the Labour Education Adventure Series 1/2025 (East Coast: Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau) at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort. He added that JTK Sabah along with employers, has been tasked with a thorough worker registration process to ensure no undocumented migrants are employed in the state. Meanwhile, JTK Sabah director Wan Zulkfli Wan Setapa shared that the Sabah Labour Ordinance, first enforced in 1950, has only undergone two amendments since. Effective May 1, 2025, all workers in Sabah — regardless of salary or type of employment — are now covered under the Ordinance. Female workers are now entitled to 98 days of maternity leave, aligning Sabah's policy with Peninsular Malaysia's provisions that came into effect in January 2023. Fathers are now entitled to seven days of paternity leave, a provision previously unavailable. Additionally, to promote better work-life balance, amendments have reduced weekly working hours from 48 to 45 hours.
Borneo Post
13-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Minimum wage hike will spur Sabah's economy
Zulkfli (left), Azman (centre), and Mohd Arifin at the SLAC appointment ceremony. KOTA KINABALU (May 13): The recent increase in the minimum wage from RM1,500 to RM1,700 per month is expected to significantly stimulate Sabah's economy, said Sabah Human Resource Department (JTK Sabah) director Zulkfli Wan Setapa. 'I'll give you an example. In economic terms, this relates to the velocity of money. With the RM200 increase, every worker will have more to spend,' he said. 'In Sabah, about 75 percent of the 2.1 million workers earn around RM1,500 per month. That's roughly one million workers who will benefit from the increment. Multiply that by RM200, and you get RM200 million injected into the economy every month,' he added. Zulkfli was speaking to the media after the handing over of appointment letters to 48 permanent members of the Sabah Labour Advisory Council (SLAC) at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort on Tuesday. The event was officiated by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif who represented the Chief Minister. Zulkfli pointed out that since many of the wage earners fall below the poverty line (defined as earning under RM2,800/month), the additional income is likely to be spent entirely on necessities. 'Imagine RM200 million spent on essentials like rice. That's RM200 million in income for rice sellers. The rice sellers might then spend on vegetables, the vegetable vendors on fish, and the fishmongers on tuition for their children. This chain reaction keeps the money circulating,' he explained. 'If the velocity of money is 10 times, that RM200 million can translate to RM2 billion circulating in the economy each month. Over a year, that's RM20 billion — a major boost for Sabah's economy.' He also acknowledged that unemployment in Sabah remains relatively high but assured that the State Government is implementing more effective strategies to address the issue. 'We're focusing on job creation and also encouraging Sabahans working in West Malaysia to return and contribute to the local economy,' he said. On another note, Zulkfli addressed concerns regarding public holidays and leave entitlements for workers in the state. He clarified that under current labour laws, employers are required to provide a minimum of 14 public holidays per year. 'Anything beyond that is up to the employer. Some may voluntarily offer more. The same goes for annual leave — the statutory minimum is eight days, but some employers provide 10, 12, 15, or even up to 20 days. What's important is that they meet the minimum requirement,' he said. Also present at the event was Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof, Secretary-General of the Federal Ministry of Human Resources.
