A total of 70,441 people obtained work permits (including permit renewals) for foreign employment last month.
According to the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), 60,472 men and 9,969 women received work permits for foreign employment in the first month of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27. Out of the total number, 42,693 people obtained work permits for the first time, while 27,748 had their work permits renewed during the review month.
Likewise, 29,447 individuals received work permits through manpower companies, while 12,442 obtained permits on an individual basis. Similarly, 712 have obtained work permits through ‘G2G’ for foreign employment.
According to the DoFE records, the largest number of workers have gone to the UAE, with 18,784 people receiving work permits for the UAE last month. Similarly, 12,498 people got their work permits for Malaysia, 10,360 for Qatar, and 8,613 people for work permits in Saudi Arabia.
In the previous month, a total of 69,362 people had obtained work permits. Overall, 792,187 people had obtained work permits and gone abroad for employment in FY 2025/26.
