PETALING JAYA: MEF is most disappointed and taken aback that FOMEMA had decided to increase the fees and frequency of foreign workers without any prior discussion with the stakeholders.
The President of MEF, Datuk Dr. Syed Hussain Syed Husman P.J.N., J.P., states that “Businesses only get to know about the increase in fees and frequency of the foreign workers when visiting the FOMEMA website. Fomema announced that with effect from 16thDecember 2023 foreign workers need to do medical through FOMEMA every year and also increase their price. Previously foreign workers need to do medical check up to 3 years continuously and do not need to any medical check-up until 7 years later. The requirements for medical check-up was subsequently changed to every alternate year but now FOMEMA changed the requirement for foreign worker to every year meaning foreign workers need to do medical every year. Fomema also unilaterally increased the fees by 10% to 14%. With about 2 Million foreign workers employers need to bear about RM414 Mil yearly for foreign workers FOMEMA medical examination.”
“Up till now there has been no official announcement by the relevant government authorities but the increase in fee and frequency of medical examination for foreign workers was made by FOMEMA Sdn Bhd, the company given the license to carry out medical examination for foreign workers.”
Before the announcement on the increase of medical examination fees for foreign workers the charges by Fomema were RM190 for male and RM207 for female foreign workers covering for screening for HIV, Hepatitis B, syphilis and pregnancy, including use of opiates and cannabis. The fees have been increased to RM207 for males and RM217 for females and expanded to include three new categories, namely, filariasis (roundworm), Hepatitis C and methamphetamine.
Datuk Dr. Syed Hussain states further that “MEF urges the relevant authorities to step in and discuss with the relevant stakeholders. In the meantime, the increase in fees and frequency of medical examination as announced by FOMEMA should be suspended.”
For further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Malaysian Employers Federation HQ at 03-7498 7200. Additionally, you may directly reach out to Ms. Nadia at 019-216 1636 (Manager Sales & Project Development) or Ms. Musfirah (Executive Sales & Project Development) at 019-633 0292. Alternatively, you can email Nadia at
nadia@mef.org.my or Musfirah at
musfirah.liyana@mef.org.my.
17 January 2024