New HR Minister wants to reduce dependence on foreign labour

M. Kulasegaran. -Bernamapic

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry is looking into reducing the dependency on foreign workers, said its minister M. Kulasegaran.

In his fourth official day as minister, Kulasegaran said the foreign workers policy was now subject to review as priority is to be given to local workers.

“We will allow foreign workers out of necessity, (but) the priority is to be given to our workers, our people first,” he told a press conference at the Industrial Court in Wisma Perkeso here Thursday (May 24).

He was asked about the agreement made in 2016 between the previous administration and the Bangladesh government to bring in about 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers to Malaysia.

Kulasegaran also said his ministry was already having meetings to review the minimum wage rate, which Pakatan Harapan pledged to gradually increase to RM1,500 a month.

However, he said it may take some time to come up with concrete plans as the country’s debts and finances have to be managed and looked into first.

He confirmed that the Employment Insurance Scheme (EIS) would continue.

The Ipoh Barat MP also said that the ministry is looking into how Industrial Court procedures could be expedited.