Ria Money Transfer, a subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide and a leading player in global remittances, has officially received approval from Malaysia’s Department of Labour Peninsular to disburse wages digitally to migrant workers via the Ria Wallet. This marks a major step forward in promoting financial inclusion among the country’s migrant workforce, many of whom remain unbanked and rely heavily on cash transactions.
The approval allows employers to use Ria’s digital Payroll Management System to pay salaries directly into workers’ Ria Wallets. This system is part of a broader Prepaid Card Program developed in partnership with Mastercard, offering an omni-channel, secure, and compliant payroll solution for businesses that often struggle with traditional banking access.
With the Ria Wallet, migrant workers will now be able to deposit funds, pay bills, withdraw cash from ATMs, and perform both local and international money transfers. The wallet also supports QR code payments through DuitNow, enabling convenient cashless purchases at millions of merchants across Malaysia.
According to data from the International Organisation for Migration, migrant workers make up approximately 15.3% of Malaysia’s workforce, yet many do not have access to formal banking. The launch of this digital wage solution is set to address the long-standing issue of cash dependency in migrant communities and offer these individuals greater access to modern financial tools and services.
Ria has maintained operations in Malaysia since 2001 and forms part of a global remittance network spanning more than 624,000 locations across nearly 200 countries and territories. With the latest development, Ria continues its commitment to financial inclusion and transparent wage management across the Asia-Pacific region.
Espen Kristensen, Managing Director of Ria Money Transfer Asia Pacific, stated, “We understand the challenges employers in Malaysia face when it comes to managing wages for their workers. Through the Ria Wallet, companies will be able to benefit from a digital solution that improves transparency and compliance across their operations.”
By bridging the gap between migrant workers and secure financial services, Ria’s new wage payment system is poised to change how migrant labourers in Malaysia are paid, making their lives more manageable while helping employers meet their compliance obligations with ease.