A study by the Institute for Labour Market Information and Analysis (ILMIA) on the need for foreign workers in the country is almost completed and is expected to be presented to the Cabinet within three months, said Human Resource Minister, Datuk Richard Riot Jaem.

He said before foreign workers could be brought in, the ministry was directed to conduct a demand and supply analysis to determine the actual number of foreign workers required.

"We are three quarters of the way into this study, we hope it can be tabled to the Cabinet in three months time," he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2016 at the committee level for the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat here on Thursday.

In reply to a query on the party responsible for making the decision with regards to foreign workers coming into the country, Richard said the responsibility came under the purview of the Home Affairs Ministry (KDN).

Nevertheless, he said though the final decision was by KDN, the government through its 'one stop centres' represented by regulatory agencies, including the Ministry of Human Resources would also play a role in screening employers' applications to hire foreign workers.

"This is important to ensure applications are in accordance with the criteria set by the government.

"Other agencies involved in the 'one stop centres' are MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry), the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA), Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and
Consumer Affairs (KPDNKK) and the Works Ministry (KKR)," he said.

Commenting on the laying off of Malaysia Airline System (MAS) employees, Richard said the Industrial Relations Department (IRD) had received 5,043 complaints from former employees who had filed claims against MAS from Sept 1 to Oct 30.

He said the IRD would act as the mediator in resolving issues between the former employees and MAS when they meet to discuss on the claims for compensation in early December.

However, he said, to date the former employees have not made any proposal on the compensation amount. The Dewan Rakyat sits again on Monday.