Long-term solution to foreign labour issues

Foreign workers remit most of their wages to their families

COMMENTARIES on a coherent foreign labour policy have again emerged in the last few weeks. The common consensus is that Malaysia does need foreign labour, but there needs to be a holistic policy on foreign labour which has certainty to enable planning by employers and it should be consistent as flip-flops are costly to businesses.

It should also be for the longer term to ensure labour supports sustainable economic growth. Recent policy measures on foreign labour, especially for unskilled workers have been ad hoc and employer protests on uncertainty of implementation have caused these policy measures to be announced and then deferred.