PETALING JAYA: Employers applying to hire migrant workers through the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS) will get an approval within one week, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

       Saravanan also said there were no outstanding issues with the recruitment of workers from 14 source countries.

       "Issues on recruitment of workers from 14 source countries have been resolved.

       "Any employer who requires foreign workers can apply through the existing FWCMS system and approvals will be given within one week," he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini on Wednesday (June 8).

       He also said there will now be no more worker shortage issues.

       Saravanan, who was asked if the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (June 8) had discussed the number of Bangladeshi Recruitment Agencies (BRAs) allowed to send foreign workers here, said there was "nothing to discuss".

       He said that Malaysia had decided on the issue for some time.

       "At Malaysia's level, the memorandum of understanding was long settled.

       "There's no issue at the Cabinet level. Because the Cabinet has decided, that's why I went to Bangladesh. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone," he was quoted as saying.

       Saravanan was alluding to his trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh on June 1 where he met with the Bangladeshi Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad.

       Previously, the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) had voiced their objection to Malaysia's proposal to appoint only 25 agencies to supply workers to Malaysia, claiming that the move would encourage syndication.