The first batch of 1,000 Pakistani workers out of 100,000 that Malaysia had agreed to recruit to meet its labour shortage were expected to arrive by mid-June, said Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Jamshaid Iftikhar. Director-General of the Immigration and Overseas Employment Bureau in Islamabad, Pakistan has confirmed the report.
The group, mostly general workers, comprised those with or without prior experience of working abroad, he was quoted as saying by Malaysian news agency 'Bernama' here Friday.
The workers before their arrival in Malaysia were briefed on the Malaysian culture, ethics and the relevant immigration and labour laws by the Pakistani recruiting company as well as Pakistani government officials from the Protector of Emigrants, Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC).
Currently, the High Commission had been receiving requests from Malaysian employers for workers in the construction, manufacturing and services sectors, he said.
"It takes about four weeks from the submission of documents to the High Commission here until the arrival of workers. This excludes the time taken by the Malaysian authorities to process the visas," he said.
It is estimated that about 200,000 workers are needed in the manufacturing sector, 150,000 in construction, 50,000 in plantations and 20,000 in the services sector.