| Izah Azahari & Nazrin Asyraf |
THE Labour Department officially launched its new Application Process for the Foreign Worker Licence (LPA) yesterday at the Labour Department Building, Ministry of Home Affairs, Jalan Menteri Besar.
Present as the guest of honour at the event was the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong.
Opening the event was a Doa, followed by a demonstration for the minister, accompanied by Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs; and Haji Idris bin Haji Ali, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, on the processes of the LPA application by officers at the Labour Department.
The event also saw the Minister of Home Affairs delivering a brief statement to members of the press, explicating that the Labour Department has introduced a new policy known as LPA which combines foreign worker recruitment licence and work permit (BUR 500 / BUR 555) with the objective of giving an ease of quality and efficient service, as well as to give the public convenience in dealing with the Labour Department, in addition to supporting the country’s desire towards a pro-business environment.
Among the other objectives of the LPA, said the minister, are to ensure the recruitment and use of workers are organised and in line with the requirements of the act and regulations that have been enforced; prioritisation of local residents, namely the acquisition of positions in the industrial sector held by foreign workers are to be filled by local workers in stages by introducing a Local Foreign Ratio (NTA); and to have a balance between the needs of pro-business environment as well as the need to protect the security, well-being and national interest.
Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Home Affairs during an interview. – PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM
The minister taking a closer look at the book of Foreign Worker Permit.
As of the first of October, LPA currently allows only the application of new licences, while licence extension and licence renewal would be applicable on January 1 and April 1, 2017, respectively.
For added convenience, counters for Local Employment and Workforce Development Agency (APTK) and the Immigration and National Registration Department are now unified within the Labour Department building so applicants are no longer required to go from one building to another.
The launch of the LPA is part of the Labour Department’s new strategic plan to help steer into the nation’s Pro-Business Policy, which also aims to assist local workers to replace positions within the industrial sector that are held by foreign workers that will be filled in stages through the NTA.
A pilot test for the LPA was carried out on September 6 where multiple companies and agencies were briefed on its functions.
The minister revealed that 15 out of 22 accepted applications have been approved through the LPA.
Ending his statement, the minister hopes that with the introduction of the LPA, it will create a more efficient and quality service which will provide convenience to the public.
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