Common Immigration and Employment Terms Glossary

JTKSWK — Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak

The Sarawak Labour Department. Oversees employment licensing, labour regulations, and worker welfare in Sarawak.

SSM — Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia

The Companies Commission of Malaysia. All businesses must be registered with SSM. Your SSM registration documents are required for almost every application.

MOH — Ministry of Health Malaysia

Oversees medical screening requirements for foreign workers, including which clinics are approved to conduct examinations.

LHDN — Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri

The Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia. Handles taxation matters, including tax clearance for foreign workers leaving the country.

CIDB — Construction Industry Development Board

The regulatory body for the construction industry. Construction companies must be CIDB-registered to employ foreign workers.

MITI — Ministry of International Trade and Industry

Issues manufacturing licences required for companies in the manufacturing sector.

MPOB — Malaysian Palm Oil Board

Regulatory body for the palm oil industry. Oil palm smallholders need an MPOB licence.

PDRM — Polis Diraja Malaysia

The Royal Malaysia Police. Issues permits for certain business types (e.g., metal trading) and police reports for abscondment cases.

JIMS — Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (Sarawak)

The Immigration Department of Malaysia, Sarawak branch. Handles entry permits, work passes (including Employment Passes), visa processing, and immigration enforcement in Sarawak. Operates independently from Peninsular Malaysia's immigration offices under Sarawak's constitutional autonomy.

AP — Approval in Principle

Government approval confirming that your company is authorised to recruit foreign workers. This must be obtained before recruitment can begin.

VDR — Visa with Reference

A visa authorisation that allows a specific foreign worker to enter Malaysia for employment purposes. Applied for through the Immigration Department.

VP(TE) — Visit Pass (Temporary Employment)

The temporary work pass issued to foreign workers upon arrival and after completing requirements. This is the pass that legally authorises them to work.

PLKS — Pas Lawatan Kerja Sementara

The work permit card issued to foreign workers. Must be valid and carried at all times during employment.

EP — Employment Pass

A pass for skilled foreign professionals, managers, and expatriates taking up long-term positions. EP1 requires a minimum salary of RM5,000/month (renewable up to 5 years total); EP2 requires a minimum of RM3,000/month (renewable once, 2 years total maximum). Issued by JIMS.

PVP — Professional Visit Pass

A pass for foreign professionals entering for short-term assignments such as training, consulting, or technical work (up to 12 months).

PRA — Pembantu Rumah Asing

Foreign Domestic Helper. The term used in official forms and processes for maid recruitment applications.

HOR — Hiring Outcome Report

A report from JobSarawak confirming that the employer has advertised the position for a minimum of 3 working days and in a local newspaper. Required for most foreign worker and EP applications. Exempt for key posts, shareholders, specialists, and cross-postings.

KWSP / EPF — Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (Employees Provident Fund)

Malaysia's mandatory retirement savings scheme. Foreign workers (excluding domestic helpers) and their employers are each required to contribute to the fund, which the worker can withdraw when they permanently leave Malaysia.

PERKESO / SOCSO — Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (Social Security Organisation)

The government body that administers social security protection for workers. Employers must register and contribute to PERKESO for their foreign workers, providing coverage under the Employment Injury Scheme (workplace accidents, occupational diseases) and the Invalidity Scheme.

EIS — Employment Insurance System (Sistem Insurans Pekerjaan)

A social protection scheme administered by PERKESO that provides financial assistance to workers who lose their jobs. EIS applies only to Malaysian citizens and permanent residents — foreign workers are not covered under this scheme.

SPIKPA — Skim Perlindungan Insurans Kesihatan Pekerja Asing

Foreign Workers Health Insurance Protection Scheme. A mandatory insurance scheme covering hospitalisation and medical treatment for foreign workers.

SKHPPA — Skim Kemasukan Hospital dan Pembedahan Pekerja Asing

Foreign Workers Hospitalisation and Surgery Scheme. An alternative health insurance option to SPIKPA.

FOMEMA — Foreign Workers Medical Examination Monitoring Agency

The agency that manages and monitors medical examinations for foreign workers in Peninsular Malaysia. Note: Sarawak does not use FOMEMA — Sarawak has its own medical screening system called SAFHIS.

SAFHIS — Sarawak Foreigners Health Information System

Sarawak's own medical screening system for foreign workers, separate from the FOMEMA system used in Peninsular Malaysia. Foreign workers must undergo SAFHIS screening at a panel facility within 30 days of arriving in Sarawak.

Form 9

Certificate of Incorporation of a company. One of the standard SSM documents required in applications.

Form 24

Return of allotment of shares. Shows the company's shareholding structure.

Form 49

Return giving particulars of directors, managers, and secretaries. Shows who runs the company.

Form IM.12

Visit Pass application form. The main immigration form for applying for a temporary work pass.

CTC — Certified True Copy

A photocopy of a document that has been verified as authentic by a Commissioner for Oaths, lawyer, or Notary Public.

CFO — Commissioner for Oaths (Pesuruhjaya Sumpah)

A government-appointed officer authorised to administer oaths, witness statutory declarations, and certify documents. Commonly required to certify true copies and statutory declarations for work permit and employment pass applications.

MSIC — Malaysia Standard Industrial Classification

A classification code assigned to businesses based on their primary activity. Used in various government applications.

NRE — Non-Resident Employee

A tax classification for foreign workers who have been in Malaysia for less than 182 days in a calendar year.

NSIC — Non-Sarawakian Identity Card

An identity card issued to non-Sarawakian workers (including foreign workers) with a valid work pass in Sarawak.

MPK — Departure Check Memo

A memo issued when a foreign worker's pass is cancelled or revoked. The worker must leave Sarawak and the memo is checked at the point of departure.

Abscondment

When a foreign worker leaves their employment without notice or fails to return after home leave. Must be reported to Immigration within 30 days with a police report and the Foreign Worker Abscondment Report Form.

Local Understudy

A Malaysian employee designated to be trained by an Employment Pass holder. The employer must appoint a local understudy within 6 months of EP approval, with the goal of knowledge transfer and eventual replacement. Failure to do so may prevent EP renewal.

Labour Licence

A licence introduced in November 2025 under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Amendment) Act 2025 that companies must hold before applying for an Employment Pass. Applied for automatically as part of the EP process. Separate from the Employment Licence under Section 119 (which covers general foreign workers).

HOR — Hiring Outcome Report

A report obtained through JobSarawak confirming that the employer has attempted to hire locally before seeking foreign workers. Required for most AP and Employment Pass applications.

FWTA — Foreign Workers Transformation Approach

Sarawak's integrated digital system for managing foreign worker recruitment, replacing the older MSEN system. Covers the entire process from application to placement.

Section 119 — Labour Ordinance (Sarawak Chapter 76)

The provision requiring employers to obtain a Non-Resident Employee Employment Licence before employing foreign workers in Sarawak. Non-compliance carries a fine of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to 1 year, or both.

Act 446 — Workers' Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990

The law governing minimum accommodation standards for workers, including foreign workers. Requirements include minimum sleeping area (3 sqm per worker), toilet ratios, kitchen facilities, and fire safety measures. Non-compliance carries a fine of up to RM200,000 or imprisonment of up to 3 years.