SHAH ALAM: The government is open to considering applications for foreign workers specifically for the oil palm plantation sector, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Although the government had imposed a freeze on foreign worker recruitment since last year, he said it had received requests from the Plantation and Commodities Ministry to hire foreign workers due to a shortage of labour in the sector.
“Since September last year, we have stopped accepting applications for foreign workers, and no new applications have been approved.
“(Plantation and Commodities Minister) Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani requested that we open the application process for plantation workers, especially in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said during an event at Universiti Teknologi Mara here yesterday, Bernama reported.
He said the Plantation and Commodities Ministry had been asked to provide information regarding the labour shortages and specific needs of the sector before any decisions are made.
“That’s why we have decided to temporarily suspend foreign worker recruitment. We will first ask plantation companies how many workers they require, and then the relevant authorities will verify and confirm the numbers before we meet to make a final decision,” added Saifuddin Nasution.
