Communication Barriers in the Workplace from the Employers’ Perspective

Mohammad Fadzeli Jaafar, Adreena Natasya Ahmad Daud, Mohd Nasir Selamat, Mohammed Azlan Mis and Indirawati @ Indrawati Zahid
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Mohammad Fadzeli Jaafar: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Malaysia (UKM)
Adreena Natasya Ahmad Daud: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Malaysia (UKM)
Mohd Nasir Selamat: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Malaysia (UKM)
Mohammed Azlan Mis: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Malaysia (UKM)
Indirawati @ Indrawati Zahid: Academy of Malay Studies, University of Malaya (UM)

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2025, vol. 9, issue 8, 7101-7113

Abstract: Previous studies demonstrate that employers face various communication problems or language barriers with foreign workers, which can affect the productivity and safety of workers. The issue of communication barriers worsens when previous studies have found that foreign workers lack confidence in communicating, lack knowledge, do not understand instructions or tasks given, and have poor time management to complete tasks. In relation to this, this study seeks to investigate the issue of communication barriers involving foreign workers with employers in the workplace. This study aims to identify the variables that influence the use of language among foreign workers and employers and analyze the relationship between the variables and communication barriers. Based on the questionnaire, this study successfully obtained 50 respondents, representing employers in the manufacturing and service sectors in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor. The respondents consisted of managers, engineers, executives, supervisors and production leaders. The data was analyzed statistically descriptively. The results show that two variables, namely perception and experience factors are positively and significantly related to the issue of communication barriers in the workplace. While the other five variables, namely communication problems, education, safety, discrimination and work instructions recorded a moderate mean score with the aspect of communication barriers. This study has contributed to the employer's view of foreign workers in Malaysia from the aspect of communication barriers. The findings of this study can help employers to improve effective communication with foreign workers in various sectors in Malaysia. In this way, work productivity and marketability can be improved among foreign workers.

Date: 2025
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