Eligible Source Countries for Foreign Workers in Sarawak

Malaysia permits the recruitment of foreign workers from a specific list of approved countries. For employers in Sarawak, here are the 12 eligible source countries and what you should know about each.

The 12 Approved Source Countries

Choosing the Right Source Country

The choice of source country depends on several factors:

• Industry sector — Some countries have more experience in certain industries. Indonesian workers are very common in plantation and domestic work, while Bangladeshi workers are well-represented in construction.
• Language — Indonesian workers often adapt well in Malaysia due to the similarity between Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malaysia.
• Availability — Worker supply varies by country and can change based on bilateral agreements and local conditions in the source country.
• Cultural compatibility — For domestic helper placements in particular, cultural and religious alignment with the employer family is often considered.

Common Pairings by Sector

General Workers vs Skilled Workers

An important distinction to note: only Indonesian nationals are eligible for general worker positions in Sarawak. Workers from the other 11 approved countries may only be recruited as skilled workers in their respective sectors.

For skilled professionals and expatriates applying for an Employment Pass or Professional Visit Pass, there is no restriction to these 12 countries. Professionals from any country may apply, subject to meeting the qualification and experience requirements.

However, Employment Passes are not available for all sectors. EP applications are not accepted for spas, hair salons, mini markets, cafes, hawkers, manpower agencies, scrap dealers, and similar businesses. The minimum salary for an EP2 is RM3,000/month and RM5,000/month for an EP1.

A Note on Sarawak

Sarawak manages its own immigration system under the Immigration Act 1959/63. The list of eligible source countries follows federal policy, but the application and processing is handled through Sarawak's own channels. Workers approved for Peninsular Malaysia cannot automatically work in Sarawak — a separate application is required.