Malaysia's fastfood outlets are no longer allowed to hire foreign workers, as per order of Malaysia's Health Ministry.

This will affect foreign workers from India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Cambodia where most workers for this industry was outsourced. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) may not be spared, and this order from the country's Health Ministry will leave them a sector short in finding jobs.

The order came up in response to Malaysia's aim to prioritize hiring of local workers for the food sector job openings in the country. Foreign workers outnumbered Malaysian workers in fastfood positions such as waiters and cooks.

The Home Ministry acts as the secretariat for the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers and Illegal Immigrants. The decision was made during a meeting of the committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. 

In addition, the Malaysian government will start arrest and deportation of illegal foreign workers who will not be able to correct their work status in the country before January 21.