PUTRAJAYA: Multinational companies (MNCs) with good track records will enjoy a shorter processing time of five days when applying for work permits and visas for their expatriate staff starting in June, says Rafizi Ramli.
The Economy Minister said this would be a drastic drop from an average of 87 days for such applications to be processed.
He said during discussions between companies and the special task force to facilitate business, or Pemudah, one of the top grouses raised was the time taken to process work permits and visas for expatriates.
“We will soon have a simpler system to process these applications due to the rationalisation of processes and systems.
“These companies, particularly the large MNCs, already have their records with the government, so their applications will be fast tracked,” he said after chairing the Pemudah meeting yesterday.
He said the facility would be extended to companies that have good compliance with the country’s laws and policies and have longstanding expatriate employment.
However, he said they would still be subjected to audits to ensure compliance with Malaysia’s laws and regulations.
For companies that have yet to establish a good record for the authorities to check, the minister said they would have to undergo the current time period for their applications to be processed.
Rafizi also said he would hold discussions with all mentri besar, chief ministers and state secretaries to get local authorities to adopt a shorter processing period for development orders.
He said at present, the number of days to process an application for a development order varies from one local authority to another.
The average number of days taken by local authorities to process an application for a development order is 148 days.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall has the shortest processing time frame at 58 days.
