Sunday, January 20, 2008

Malaysia: 200000 foreign workers to be sacked by 2009

Press Trust Of India
Kuala Lumpur, January 20, 2008

Last Updated: 01:06 IST(21/1/2008)

Two lakh foreign workers may be sent home by 2009In a move which could affect Indians employed in Malaysia, the government in Malaysia is likely to send home at least two lakh foreign workers by next year to promote job opportunities for locals.

This follows the government's denial of reports earlier this month which had claimed that it had placed a freeze on recruitment of Indian workers.

Malaysia, which relies heavily on labour from India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, has over 20 lakh foreign workers with approvals for two lakh arrivals this year.

With the immediate effect, the Home Ministry has said it would not approve the work permit of any foreign worker who has been in this country for five years or longer. This alone would reduce by two lakh the number of foreign workers in the country by early next year.

By reducing the number of foreign workers in many of the industries, employers will be forced to hire local workers at "reasonable" salaries, it was reported here.

The government wants to reduce foreign workers to 18 lakh by next year and 15 lakh by 2015. "However, it faces a dilemma because it has approved applications from employers last year to bring in 200,000 foreign workers this year," the Star newspaper said Sunday.

"We are going to re-look at the policy of managing foreign workers in this country. We have a total of 2.3 million foreign workers, students and expatriates and short term workers from southern Thailand," Home Affairs Ministry secretary general Raja Azhar Raja Abdul Manap was quoted as saying.

The minister said skilled workers could work in Malaysia for a maximum of 10 years but they must have qualifications recognised by the Government.

"We have been lax with the ruling to allow employers to cut costs with cheaper foreign labour but now they have to turn to locals and pay a reasonable salary based on supply and demand," he said.

The paper said that a recent report indicated that foreigners took up 20 per cent of the 2 to 3 lakh new jobs created last year especially in the labour sector.

Regarding hiring workers in the domestic help sector, the government may insist that households with income of 5000 ringgit (about Rs 52,000) be allowed to employ foreign maids against the current 3000 ringgit (about Rs 36,000) per month.

The Home Ministry will also consider the manpower needs of the government's development projects such as the development of the Iskandar Development Region and the Northern Corridor Economic Region, the daily said.

Malaysia currently employees foreign workers in the sectors of construction, plantation, hotels and restaurants.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=a6f54b7c-bb35-4be9-b8d6-30e9cba74b22

1 comment:

DIASPORA said...

The foreign workers have become the medium for both the Agents and their cohorts in the countries of origin and in malaysia to 'milk' the victims and their relatives until they are placed in a state of stupour. The 'milking' or the weekly or monthly collection or can we say 'corrupt' demanding of bakshis goes on right in front of our eyes such that people in organisations in RELA, the Police etc have lost any fear of the public seeing what they are doing.

Added to these specimens come the local Authorities watchmen - who come for their loot on 'shifts' daily wherever foregin workers are found.

There are thousand of workers in Malaysia without jobs and Employerswill keep that situation going because it is cheaper to engage and slaughter the foreign worker at pittance wages most of which go to our loyal protection Services. Our Authorities too want them although people in the Immigtation; Agents and their ilk say that foreginers should go. When everyone is having a GRAND time milking these poor souls who in heavens would want them to go. Do not make an average Malaysian laugh with contempt for the ludicrous statements that you all make off and on expecting us to believe that you are ALL going to give up such a great opportunity to 'milk' the foreigners. It may be that you may want more foreign workers to be brought in so that you can milk the existing ones much higher sums. Now the authorities have come up with a 'brain wave' of stupendous value asking Employers to take out Insurances for maids from their crony companies so that they are assured of their higher 'kick backs'. When will these smart alecks stop siphoning the foreigners and the public?