By R.Ratcharathan
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 (Bernama) — The new body or commission to be set up to tackle the issue of foreign workers should have a clear policy in the recruitment of foreign workers, says Malaysian Employers Federation executive director, Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan.
He said the policy was vital to restrict the influx of foreign workers, which had, inadvertently, contributed to the increase of criminal threats and caused dissatisfaction among the people in the country.
“The new commission should also look into the aspect of national security and not simply focus on the need of workers. Recruitment should only be done if there exists shortage of workers.
“However, if the recruitment of foreign workers brings more problems, it should be stopped,” he told BERNAMA when contacted in Kuala Lumpur, Friday.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Thursday announced that a body or commission would be set up to tackle the issue of foreign labour, both legal and illegal.
The minister said the commission, which would not be involved with any ministry, was being set up under the instruction of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
However, Shamsuddin said any actions by the commission should be done in stages, so that it would not bring about negative implications on the industry and the employer, as well as the country’s economic growth.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye expressed hoped that the commission would be able to solve the long-standing issues concerning foreign workers.
He said the commission should investigate the actual causes of influx of illegal immigrants who had also contributed to the increase of crime cases in the country.
Kuala Lumpur Social Development, Crime Prevention and Anti-Drugs Voluntary Organisation president, R.Jeevan, on the other hand, said the commission should involve several non-governmental organisations and government agencies to strengthen its operation.
“The commission should discuss with the Labour Department to identify the sectors that really need foreign workers, so that the sectors that do not need foreign workers can be restricted from recruiting them,” he told BERNAMA.
Commenting further, Jeevan said the new commission should be set up as soon as possible because the number of foreign workers had significantly surpassed the locals, especially in the manufacturing sector.
Last Tuesday, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem said there were an estimated 6.7 million foreign workers in this country but only 2.1 million of them had valid work permits.
However, he said the actual number of foreign workers in this country might be bigger, based on the premise that a foreign worker with a valid work permit would bring in at least another without a permit.
Jeevan said members of the commission should have ample knowledge on issues concerning employers and foreign workers, and should try to find the mastermind behind the influx of illegal immigrants in Malaysia.
Meantime, Malaysian Trades Union Congress had called on all ministries involved in the issue of foreign workers to work together to find the solution.
Its secretary-general, N.Gopal Kishnam said actions to be taken against employers who used tricks and tactics to avoid hiring local workers should also be given attention.
“Among their tactics are by offering voluntary separation scheme to their local workers and replace them with foreign workers who are paid the lowest salaries,” he said, adding that the tactics had been used by employers since 1990s.
He said, over the years, many workers’ unions had lodged reports on this unethical attitude of employers to the Human Resources Ministry as industrial disputes, but it was disappointing when the cases were referred to the Industrial Relations Department and Industrial Court.
“In fact, it has become a trend of late in which employers prefer to take Collective Agreement cases to the Industrial Court and not to negotiate directly with workers’ unions. This phenomenon has weakened the bargaining power of the workers’ unions,” he added.
–BERNAMA
