KUALA LUMPUR - The Home Ministry will open a special application window from January 19 to March 31 for employers to submit foreign worker quota requests.

The ministry said applications submitted before the existing December 31 deadline would still be processed, while the special window would cover all sectors and subsectors approved by the government on October 1.

This includes the services sector under the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, where applications had closed a week earlier.

The Home Ministry said in a statement, all applications submitted during the special window would be reviewed together with the relevant ministries and would be subject to existing rules on foreign worker employment.

“All employers are required to submit applications directly to the One-Stop Foreign Worker Management Centre, without intermediaries or agents,” the ministry said in a statement.

To make the process smoother, employers can book appointments in advance through the ministry’s website starting Jan 16.

The ministry said the move reflects the government’s commitment to meeting industry needs while improving the delivery of public services.