PETALING JAYA: Indian restaurant operators who are facing serious worker shortage are urging the government to approve the foreign workers replacement quota soon, especially to replace workers who have already returned home. He added that 2022 was the last time approvals were granted to hire new foreign workers for Indian restaurants. “The current applications process for new foreign workers started very late, but the deadline to submit was too early. Another Indian restaurant operator in Petaling Jaya, who wants to be known as Rajes, said she has been facing problems getting new and replacement foreign workers despite having prepared all the paperwork to be submitted to the Foreign Workers Management One-Stop Centre. “The quota for new workers and replacement workers has not been opened due to the heavy restrictions and bureaucracy,” she said, adding that currently she needs 20 foreign workers for her restaurant, as she also does catering.

Source: The Star February 17, 2026 02:18 UTC