PM approves part of foreign worker applications for three sectors

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) on Monday (Sept 4) approved part of the applications for the recruitment of foreign workers, involving barbershops, textiles and goldsmiths.

In doing this, however, Anwar placed the condition that local youths be trained to fill up vacancies in the three sectors.

ALSO READ: Barber, goldsmith and textile shops can no longer hire foreign workers

"We have given approval, but in parts. I am not opening everything up because there have to be efforts made (to provide training) through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), through TEKUN (National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund). Training must be provided for the youths," he said.

He said this when officiating the Lestari Niaga@Kuala Lumpur D’Medan Selera Madani programme at Kompleks Tun Sambanthan, which was also attended by Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar and Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Senator Saraswathy Kandasami.

The prime minister said the matter would be brought to the Cabinet on Friday as it involved an immediate need for workers.

ALSO READ: Talks held to lift freeze on foreign worker recruitment for barber, goldsmith and textile shops, says HR Minister

In addition, Anwar also announced an additional allocation of RM10mil to upgrade stalls throughout Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, Sivakumar, when met by reporters, said about 15,000 foreign workers are needed for the barbershop, goldsmith and textile sectors.

"The three (sectors) have been facing problems for the past few years after recruitment was frozen.

"A lot of effort was taken to get locals to work in these sectors but there were constraints and employers found it difficult to employ them.

"And so there was a high demand for workers in these three sectors for years," he said. - Bernama