KUALA LUMPUR - Taiwan has agreed with Indonesia to widen the scope of its direct hiring programme to include additional labour sectors.

The expanded arrangement allows employers in construction, slaughtering and offshore fishing to recruit Indonesian workers without going through private brokers, the Ministry of Labour said on January 6.

It said Taiwan first introduced project-based direct recruitment for Indonesian manufacturing workers in 2019.

The programme was later extended to institutional caregivers and the agriculture sector in 2024.

With immediate effect, eligible employers can apply through the Ministry of Labour’s Direct Hiring Service Centre.

The ministry said the centre will recruit three to five times the number of candidates requested by employers.

It said employers may select workers through document screening, video interviews conducted from Taiwan, or in-person interviews overseas.

The move is expected to accelerate recruitment, lower costs for both employers and workers, and provide greater flexibility in hiring arrangements.

The ministry said the policy also aligns with international fair recruitment practices by improving transparency and reducing the risk of worker exploitation.

Established in 2007, the Direct Hiring Service Centre aims to create a more worker-friendly recruitment system and reduce dependence on intermediaries.

It provides legal consultation, case management, job transfer arrangements and bilingual services in English, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese.