Resolve labour needs via RTK 2.0 fast, urges group

Waiting game: Foreign workers hanging out at Taman Tasik Shah Alam where there is an immigration office located nearby. — Filepic

PETALING JAYA: Employers looking to resolve their labour needs via the second labour recalibration progamme (RTK 2.0) should not wait till the last hour, says a major restaurant owners body.

Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said most of his members were pleased with the RTK 2.0, which he said was being conducted smoothly.

“There are no middlemen or third parties involved and we are happy about this. The process of hiring workers has been straightforward so far. But employers still in need of workers should not wait till late to act,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Jawahar, however, urged the government to simplify the processes involved in the application for foreign workers.

“We want all things to be transparent. It should be a win-win for all,” he said.

Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors’ General Association (MSCSPGA) president Wong Teu Hoon thanked the government for introducing the RTK 2.0, which he said had helped greatly.“Many of our members have applied for workers under this programme. However, I heard there are applications still pending. I hope those who have applied will get approval as soon as possible from the relevant authorities,” said Wong.

Meanwhile, Human Resource Minister V. Sivakumar has reiterated that the crux of the foreign workers management issue was about giving priority to local workers. He said the foreign workers issue was subject to needs and sectors based on the criteria determined by the government.The minister said the government was seriously studying the matter and several steps would be taken to address the problems.

“The government has decided that there will be no more approvals for new quotas and it will only be managing the entry of workers based on the approved quotas to ensure that the number of foreign workers in Malaysia will not exceed 2.4 million by 2025.

“The authorities will increase enforcement activities and take strict action against employers who fail to comply with labour and immigration laws along with any other fraudulent activities conducted by employers during the relaxation programme,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said as of Oct 9, a total of 667,418 foreign workers had entered the country, compared with the government’s forecast of 518,000 based on the relaxation and recalibration programme. He said there were presently some 1.7 million legal foreign workers in the country.