Medical tests for Malaysia-bound workers start 31 October, earlier tests will not be accepted

Medical tests for workers wishing to work in Malaysia will begin at approved medical centres from 31 October. No medical test can be done before that date, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment has said.

The information was given at a ministry press conference on Wednesday (28 October). The list of approved medical centres will be published on the website very soon, the ministry also said. Workers have been requested to keep track of the medical centres listed on the ministry website for their medical tests.

It was said at the press conference that, based on compliance with instructions and capacity, some medical centres may be dropped from the list or newly added. Any medical test done before 31 October will not be acceptable and will not be processed for immigration clearance.

No medical centre or recruiting agency can conduct or arrange medical tests for workers without the ministry's official instructions and approval.

It has come to the ministry's notice that some brokers and dishonest agencies are trying to take passports and money from workers by offering medical tests without permission. Workers have been requested not to respond to such offers and not to hand over passports or money to anyone without confirming approval.

Until further notice, agencies applying for BMET clearance must submit the relevant papers and VDR visa papers to an approved medical centre for the tests.

Action will be taken under existing laws and rules against medical centres and recruiting agencies that violate the instructions. A violating medical centre's operations may be shut down, the concerned recruiting agency's overseas recruitment activity may be suspended, and ministry approval may be cancelled.

Workers have been requested to inform the ministry, with the date and place of the incident, the name of the person or institution involved and evidence, if they know of any illegal or unapproved medical test or such activity.

The ministry will continue monitoring to stop such irregularities to protect workers' safety and interests. At the same time, all concerned workers, recruiting agencies and medical centres have been warned to follow government instructions.