Recruitment agencies should be fined if they fail to provide jobs for foreign workers, says Johari

PUTRAJAYA: The Plantation and Commodities Ministry has proposed a compound of up to RM30,000 per worker to be imposed against companies that fail to provide jobs for the foreign workers that they recruit.

Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who presented the proposal in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (Jan 3), said the issue impacts all sectors, including the plantation sector, which is facing a labour shortage.

In a media conference held after the Plantation and Commodities Ministry gathering here Thursday (Jan 4), Johari said the proposed fines commensurate with the offences committed that could also cover the costs of repatriating the foreign workers, currently being borne by the government.

"We must ensure that fines are imposed against these companies so they won’t dare to bring in foreign workers if they cannot provide them jobs. This creates a bad image of the country,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim supports the proposal and wants the issue to be resolved quickly.

Johari said he was compelled to present the proposal following media reports on Dec 25 regarding the detention of 171 foreign workers who were walking to the Bayu Damai Police Station in Pengerang, Johor, to lodge a report against their agent who allegedly failed to provide them with jobs. - Bernama