Foreign workers will only be allowed to switch jobs within five formal sectors under new guidelines to be issued soon, says Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.

The formal sectors refer to manufacturing, construction, agriculture, plantation and services.

"The guidelines will include the minimum period, workers' consent and the sectors that will be involved," he told reporters at the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) headquarters here on Friday (May 9).

Sim said this move would be able to address labour demand in the country while reducing the need to hire new foreign workers.

Currently, foreign workers are only allowed to change employers within the same sector they are working.

"This will also avoid illegal hiring of foreign workers when transferred to a different sector and also ensure hiring does not go beyond the quota," he added.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced on Thursday (May 8) that the government had decided to allow foreign workers to change employers across different sectors of employment.