Foreign worker hiring guides
Sourced, up-to-date explainers on what it costs and what it takes to hire a foreign worker in Malaysia — each one links through to the free calculator.
Malaysian Foreign Worker Levy 2026 — Full Rates by Sector & Region
The annual foreign-worker levy is the single largest recurring government cost of hiring a foreign worker in Malaysia. How much you pay depends on two things: the sector you operate in and whether you are in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah or Sarawak. This page sets out the full rate table, the extra Sarawak surcharge, and how the levy fits alongside EPF, SOCSO and the other employer costs.
Read guideHow to Hire a Foreign Worker in Malaysia: Step-by-Step (2026)
Hiring a foreign worker in Malaysia splits into two halves: approvals you secure before the worker arrives, and compliance you maintain after. This guide walks the common backbone every sector follows, flags where construction, plantation and agriculture diverge, and points you to the calculator to estimate the full cost.
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