Johor to set up task force to tackle brain drain to Singapore

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor will set up a special task force to tackle employment issues involving locals as well as the brain drain to Singapore.

State human resource committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said the task force would be led by the Johor Human Capital Strategic Unit or Unit Strategik Modal Insan Johor (SMI).

“Currently, we are experiencing a lack of local workers for several main economic sectors in Johor such as service, commodities and manufacturing.

“When Malaysia reopened its borders on April 1, a lot of Malaysians received offers to work in the island republic.

“The currency exchange rate favours those that are earning Singapore dollars, which heavily influenced them to work there,” he said when met at the SMI Hari Raya open house here yesterday.

He added that such a situation was a problem for Johor because it was in close proximity to Singapore which made it much easier for locals to go across the Causeway for work.

Mohd Hairi said this was the main reason for the state experiencing a lack of Malaysian workers to meet the demand of industries.

“This trend will continue to increase where industry players are asking the government to resolve issues surrounding foreign workers as they are in need of employees,” he said.

Mohd Hairi is hopeful that the task force, which also involved other related agencies, will be able to find a proper solution.

“The task force’s main duty is to find ways to create employment opportunities that will meet the demand of both employers and employees in Johor,” he said.

He said that the task force would also hold discussions with the Human Resources Ministry.