Kuala Lumpur, Nov 6 (ZEENEWS.COM) Workers from India and five other nations will now have to pass a written test on Malaysian law and culture to get permits to work in the country.

Workers from India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are required to obtain the certificate of eligibility from April 1 while Indonesians will have to obtain the certificate from November 15.

The workers will receive the certificates after clearing a written test which they have to take after attending a half-day induction course on Malaysian law and culture.

The course is aimed at "familiarising foreign workers with Malaysian law and culture to minimise problems such as conflicts with employers," a media report said today.

The workers are also taught simple Bahasa Malaysia. The course outlines the labour law, health and safety procedures and where foreign workers can seek help if they are mistreated or abused, the new straits times said.

Sixty-five per cent of the 1.8 million foreigners working legally in Malaysia are Indonesians.

There are also between 300,000 and 500,000 illegal foreign workers.