Govt to mull need for more foreign workers

BATU GAJAH: The need to expand employment approval for foreign workers to other sectors will be studied three months after the Foreign Workers Employment Relaxation Plan is implemented, said Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar.

He said the plan currently covered industries such as manufacturing, construction, plantations, agriculture and service (restaurants only) sectors and sub-sectors.

“The Human Resources and Home Ministries decided to bring in foreign workers for these five critical sectors, which have high labour needs. So for now, the decision made is to help these five sectors first.

“After three months, and once we have solved the problem (shortage of foreign workers in critical sectors and sub-sectors), we will consider (expanding it to) the retail sector and others,” he said.

Sivakumar, who is also the Batu Gajah MP, said this to reporters after attending his ministry’s Chinese New Year celebration at the Pusing Convention Centre here on Friday night.

On Wednesday, Sivakumar announced a total of 500,000 foreign workers would be brought into the country in stages via the Foreign Workers Employment Relaxation Plan, which aims to address the shortage of manpower in the industry.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was reported as saying that the plan allowed employers to hire foreign workers from 15 source countries without having to meet quota requirements and employment eligibility prerequisites.

Saifuddin also said he would be leading a delegation comprising representatives from the Home and Human Resources Ministries, along with regulatory agencies, to the selected 15 source countries to hold discussions about safety and welfare aspects of foreign workers here in this country. — Bernama