Photo: Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: Disgusted by irresponsible employers who brought in foreign workers without providing them jobs, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani (pic) has proposed a compound of up to RM30,000 per worker to be imposed against the errant companies.
Johari, who presented the proposal in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, said the issue had affected all sectors, including plantation which is facing labour shortage.
He said the proposed fines commensurate with the offences committed that could also cover the costs of repatriating the foreign worker which are 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 told a press conference after the ministry gathering here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Johari said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim supports the proposal and wants the issue to be resolved quickly.
The minister 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 had allegedly failed to provide jobs.
On a separate issue, Johari said the rubber plantation sector needs an estimated 80,000 workers to meet the needs of rubber smallholders.
“There are about 420,000ha of rubber smallholdings which are still untapped due to the shortage of workers. This is a major issue.
“It is estimated that one-and-a-half hectares would require one worker. So, we would need between 70,000 and 80,000 workers,” he said.
On Dec 29, Johari said Malaysia lost RM2.3bil in gross domestic product as a result of 420,000ha of rubber smallholdings being left untapped due to a lack of manpower.
He said the last 10 years had shown a drop in the production of rubber products due to several issues like high production costs as well as small and economically-unviable smallholdings.
“This situation will affect the country’s economic growth if the government does not implement any mitigation measures,” he added.
Johari also highlighted the welfare of workers, both local and foreign, advising plantation sector employers to provide better accommodations and facilities for them.
“This will affect the rating and certification of our exports. We must address this matter because people will buy our country’s products when they know we comply with everything,” he said.
