PUTRAJAYA (April 6): Employers who want to hire foreign workers will have to apply online starting April 1, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in a Bernama report.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the home minister, said the ruling is applicable for applications for foreign workers from all source countries, except for foreign domestic helpers.

He said the measure was taken to ensure employers were not cheated by employment agents and paying extra costs, besides preventing the agents from taking advantage of foreign workers who are in dire straits.

"The decision on compulsory online application was made in the interest of all so that the Home Ministry and Immigration Department will not continue to be hurled with various accusations," Bernama reported Ahmad Zahid as saying after his ministry's monthly assembly today.

Earlier, in his speech at the assembly, Ahmad Zahid said previously the applications could be made manually or through agents who collected unreasonable service charges imposed on the foreign workers to be hired.