FMM: Govt should clear existing illegals before allowing in 1.5m Bangladeshis

Manufacturers do not want the entry of such a large number of Bangladeshi workers to add to the problem of illegal foreign workers in the country.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) is cautious about the government’s plan to bring 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers into the country.

It said on Friday manufacturers do not want the entry of such a large number of Bangladeshi workers to add to the problem of illegal foreign workers in the country. 

“The government should first clear the existing illegal foreign workers in the country before bringing in these workers.  Manufacturers have not specifically requested for Bangladeshi workers,” it said . 

The FMM said however, the additional new source country is welcomed given the many challenges employers are facing in the hiring of foreign workers from some of the existing source countries such as Nepal, Myanmar and Indonesia. 

“More importantly manufacturers want the assurance that the process of recruitment of these workers would be transparent and efficient without the involvement or appointment of any agents or outsourcing company in Malaysia to bring them in. 

“In the past, workers have been brought in by the approved outsourcing companies without secured jobs which led to many ending up as illegals. Outsourcing companies desperate to secure jobs for them then resort to offering the workers to any employer needing workers,” it said. 

FMM said manufacturers did not want to fall victim to hiring workers who were firstly not intended to work in the manufacturing sector and secondly not possessing the appropriate skills to work in manufacturing.

It reiterated that employers should be involved in the direct recruitment of the workers and allowed the right to select / interview the workers prior to the actual employment process. 

“FMM urges the government to immediately convene a meeting with employer associations and share the details of the G-to-G arrangement, especially the cost of hiring the workers. 

“We understand the deal between the two governments involves an expatriation/mobilisation cost of a maximum RM1,985 per worker to be borne by employers. It is unclear as to what the expatriation cost covers. 

“FMM has always maintained that any increase in cost must be undertaken with prior consultation with employers who would have to bear the immediate cost burden. 

“Concurrently, FMM calls on the government to holistically address the many challenges involved in the hiring of foreign workers including removing any non-value added processes and involvement of unnecessary third party service providers,” it said.