Malaysia Should Reduce Dependence On Foreign Workers, Says MEF

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government should review the number of foreign workers required by the country, given the high cost of employing them, said Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF). Its Executive Director Shamsuddin Bardan said the introduction of the minimum wage and high levy paid by employers, which amount to about US$1.30 billion (RM4 billion) every year, has made the cost of employing foreign workers very expensive. "The long term goal of the government in reducing the number of foreign workers to five percent of the total workforce by 2015, should be appropriately implemented," he said in a statement issued here Tuesday. He said Malaysia's policy on labour requirements should be to further reduce reliance on foreign workers. This is also consistent with the rationale for the introduction of the national minimum wage policy. "Employing foreign workers costs much more than local workers and they also get free transportation, accommodation and need not pay any utility bills," he said. Shamsuddin was responding to the statement made by Tenaganita Executive Director Irene Fernandez in the question-and-answer interview with The Jakarta Post which was published on Monday, that claimed that there was no legal framework nor specific laws to protect foreign workers in Malaysia, and thus the migrant workers were exploited. Shamsuddin said he was not sure of the reason why these uncalled statement was made since the accusation was clearly false and misleading. He said foreign workers enjoyed the same benefits and protection as the local workers under Malaysia's labour laws and they were also covered by the Workmen's Compensation Act where they were paid a lump sum for any work-related injury or in the case of fatality. "Under Section 60L of the Employment Act 1955, foreign workers can complain to the Director General of Labour if they feel that they are being discriminated and they can also make claims for unpaid benefit or wages under Section 69 of the same Act. "In the event that foreign workers are dismissed, they can claim for reinstatement at the Industrial Relations Department for reinstatement under Section 20 of the Industrial Relations Act 1967. Even if they don't belong to any union, for companies that have collective agreements, foreign workers can seek redress under Section 56 of the Industrial Relations Act," he said. Under the recently amended Employment Act, he said domestic maids are being provided with enhanced protection as their wages must now be paid through a bank account and that they must be provided off days. In the case of illegal foreign workers, Shamsuddin said that the focus should not be protecting their interests as they have breached the law, and appropriate action should be taken against them. "They should be deported and need not be detained. For employers of these illegal foreign workers, they must also be charged under the law," he said. -- BERNAMA