Cabinet yet to decide to lift freeze on foreign worker applications, says Mustapha Sakmud


PETALING JAYA: Despite calls for more foreign workers, the government has yet to make a decision to lift the freeze on new applications, says Deputy Human Resource Minister Mustapha Sakmud.

He said any such decision could only be made by the Cabinet.

"The Cabinet has not made any decision on the issue, so we have to wait if they want to re-open or lift the freeze for the application of foreign workers," he said here on Thursday (June 1).

Recently, Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas) president Govindasamy Jayabalan criticised the move to freeze applications for workers, saying there was a need to fill the 30% manpower shortage.

On March 19, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar announced that the quota application and approval system for foreign workers, including through the Foreign Worker Employment Relaxation Plan (PKPPA), had been postponed to an undetermined date.

On another matter, Mustapha said that the Labour Department will be tasked to handle the closure of some Panasonic Malaysia operations here.

However, he said they needed to have the needed information first.

"If it involves the welfare of employees, we will surely look into the matter to ensure their rights are protected," he said.

It was reported that the closure of some of Panasonic Malaysia's operations would leave hundreds jobless.

Earlier, Mustapha launched the Social Security Organisation (Socso) 3.0 Health Screening Program (HSP) which offers free health screening to contributors with a more comprehensive scope of health tests.

Subscribe now to our Premium Plan for an ad-free and unlimited reading experience!
   

Next In Nation

Ipoh council blazes a trail with new road resurfacing method
Businessman charged with causing hurt to Indonesian maid
Open payment system on 11 highways officially begins today
No contest for top five posts in PAS party polls
Sabah raises tertiary scholarship fund to RM101mil
Defence Ministry gives land in Skudai to build Hospital Sultanah Aminah 2
15 Jitra shophouses destroyed in 1am blaze
PM: Govt doing its best to help people cope with rising prices of goods
Three friends face death penalty for drug trafficking
Six S'ban hospital workers nabbed for bribery

Others Also Read