Policy update · 22 Aug 2026 · Verified 6 Oct 2026

FWCMS registered recruitment agencies in Malaysia: what changed on 22 August 2026

Employers are now reported to be limited to overseas agencies registered on FWCMS. Here is what has been reported, how to check an agency on both the FWCMS and JTKSM registers, and what to confirm before you commit.

Ask a recruitment specialist How to verify an agency

Short answer

Since 22 August 2026, reports say employers can recruit foreign workers only through overseas agencies listed as registered on FWCMS. That list is separate from the JTKSM list of Malaysian agencies. Check both, put the named overseas agency in writing, and confirm against the live FWCMS list because the arrangement is still being clarified.

What has been reported

Status as of 6 October 2026

Framework in effect

A FWCMS-based recruitment framework was reported to have taken effect on 22 August 2026, with employers recruiting only through agencies registered on the platform (Free Malaysia Today).

Ten labour-sending countries

Agencies from 10 source countries were reported as listed, with 25 each for Nepal and Bangladesh (Online Khabar).

Industry pushback

Recruitment associations from Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan have asked for all licensed agencies to be allowed (Free Malaysia Today).

Process still unclear

Bangladeshi reporting says it is not yet clear how job orders will be distributed among listed agencies (The Daily Star).

These points come from news reports, not from a KESUMA or FWCMS release. We do not publish agency names here because the live FWCMS register is the authoritative source and it has changed since reporting began.

Two registers, two checks

What each list tells you

Register	Who is on it	What it confirms	Where
JTKSM list of private employment agencies	Malaysian agencies licensed under the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981	Licence number, category, state and validity; active versus cancelled or suspended	JTKSM
FWCMS Registered Recruitment Agencies	Overseas (source-country) agencies registered on FWCMS	That your overseas partner is permitted under the current framework	FWCMS FAQ and list
Source-country regulator	Agencies licensed by their own government	That the overseas agency is in good standing at home	The relevant ministry or agency of the source country

Four steps

How to verify an agency before you commit

1. Get exact names

Ask for the full registered company name of both your Malaysian agency and the overseas agency, not a trading name.

2. Check JTKSM

Match your Malaysian agency's licence number, category and validity on the JTKSM list.

3. Check FWCMS

Find the overseas agency under Registered Recruitment Agencies, then confirm its standing with its home regulator.

4. Put it in writing

Record which overseas agency is used, who pays what (workers should not pay fees) and what happens if a worker does not arrive.

Country snapshot

What has been reported by source country

Country	Reported	Our guide
Bangladesh	25 agencies reported on FWCMS; recruitment reopening in phases, with the process described as unclear.	Bangladesh reopening explained
Nepal	25 agencies reported on FWCMS; Nepal's ministry consulted listed agencies and associations asked for wider access.	Hiring Nepali workers
Other countries	Check the live FWCMS list; allocations were not confirmed at publication.	Source countries guide

What it means

For employers, depending on where you are

If you are about to apply for quota

Quota is still applied for through the FWCMS eQuota module. Raise the overseas-agency question early so it does not become a delay after approval.

If you already have approved quota or a job order

Ask your agency in writing which overseas agency will be used and whether it appears on the current FWCMS list. If anything is unclear, confirm with your agency and the authorities before paying further fees.

FAQ

FWCMS registered agencies: common questions

What are FWCMS registered recruitment agencies?

They are overseas (source-country) recruitment agencies that appear in the "Registered Recruitment Agencies" section of the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System. The FWCMS FAQ tells employers to make sure the source-country agency they use is registered with its home government and with FWCMS.

Can I recruit through any licensed overseas agency?

Reports say not any more. Free Malaysia Today reported that a FWCMS-based recruitment framework took effect on 22 August 2026, under which employers can recruit foreign workers only through agencies registered on the platform. Confirm the current position on the live FWCMS list before committing to an agency.

Is the FWCMS list the same as the JTKSM list?

No. The JTKSM list covers Malaysian private employment agencies licensed under the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981. The FWCMS list covers overseas recruitment agencies. A sound hiring chain checks both.

How do I check whether an overseas agency is on the FWCMS list?

Open the Registered Recruitment Agencies section of the FWCMS website, search by the agency's exact registered name and country, and match it to the name on your agreement. Then check the agency with its own government regulator. See the agency checklist.

Does being on the FWCMS list mean an agency is trustworthy?

No. Registration shows an agency is permitted under the framework, not that its fees, conduct or track record are sound. Source-country press has raised concerns about how few agencies are listed and how job orders will be allocated, so still ask about fees (workers should not pay), contracts and complaint handling.

Will the list change?

It may. Reporting from Bangladesh and Nepal describes the arrangement as still being clarified, and recruitment associations have asked for it to be widened. This page was last verified on 6 October 2026; always check the live FWCMS list.

Sources

Where this comes from

Free Malaysia Today, 27 Aug 2026 - framework in effect; associations' statement
Online Khabar, 23 Aug 2026 - 10 countries listed; 25 Nepal and 25 Bangladesh
The Daily Star - Bangladesh listing and unanswered process questions
FWCMS FAQ and JTKSM agency list - primary registers

Last verified 6 October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice; confirm requirements with KESUMA, FWCMS and your legal adviser.

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