Improving pool of supply

PUTRAJAYA: A series of visits to labour source countries will be held to explore ways of improving the labour supply to Malaysia, says V. Sivakumar.

The Human Resources Minister said the government, through his ministry and the Home Ministry, would be visiting some countries, such as Indonesia, Nepal and Bangladesh.

He stated that the government is taking steps to keep recruitment costs low, particularly for domestic workers.

“The government has been negotiating with other source countries.

“As we are aware, the Home Minister (Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail) has visited Indonesia and will go to Nepal and Bangladesh soon.

“We will also visit these countries as well,” he told the reporters at Menara Perkeso yesterday.

Sivakumar also said that at present, a total of 15 countries are supplying labour to Malaysia.

On a separate matter, the minister said stern action would be taken against employers who were found to terminate their workers in favour of foreigners.

He said to date, the ministry has yet to receive any complaints from employees over unfair termination.

“If there’s any truth (to the allegations), the government will take stern action against the employers.

“The government allowed foreign workers into the country, not to replace locals but to support sectors that are really in need of labour,” he said.

Last week, The Star reported that workers in factories in the northern states claimed their job contracts would not be continued as foreign workers would be brought in to replace them.

Professional training: Socso CEO Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed (left) and Sivakumar presenting certificates to graduates at Menara Perkeso. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star

The claims came following the government’s move to relax the approval for acquiring foreign workers under the Foreign Workers Employment Relaxation Plan, which aims to address the shortage of manpower.

During the event, Sivakumar attended a graduation ceremony where a total of 119 participants received their professional training certificates from Socso.

The graduates, who also consist of six international students, were awarded the Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP), Certified Return to Work Coordinator (CRTWC), Certified International Pension and Retirement Professional, and Professional Career Management Course.

The minister said conferring the CDMP and CRTWC was the right step to increase professionalism among disability management practitioners.

“Out of 324 certified holders, 10 were among graduates from other South-East Asian countries.

“This shows that Malaysia has become a pioneer in disability management and can be a role model for the region,” he said in his speech earlier.