Lack of foreign workers worrying

SHAH ALAM - Employers of various sectors in this country such as plantation, manufacturing, services, tourism, hospitality and construction are facing a shortage of foreign workers even after the government announced the entry of foreign labours in October last year.

The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) found the situation worsening since the problem had not been solved.

Its president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the plantation sector was facing a total of RM30 billion loss due to the shortage of 72,000 workers.

"In September 2021, the government informed to bring in 32,000 foreign workers for the plantation sector, but it has not been implemented until today.

"The plantation sector has tried its best to see the suitability in using technology for farm work like oil palm harvesting but still could not overcome the issue since the usage of technology in this sector is less efficient," he said.

Commenting further, Dr Syed Hussain said the manufacturing sector was also facing a 40 per cent of labour shortage which forced them to reject accepted bookings due to insufficient employees.

“Meanwhile, the hotel sector lately receives many complaints of unsatisfactory services because they do not have enough staff,” he said.

He said the efforts to overcome the shortage of foreign workers through the recalibration plan announced by the previous government also failed to solve the current issue.

In this regard, the federation proposed that the recalibration plan be revised again to turn more illegal immigrants into legal foreign workers.

He also suggested for the 168,000 card holders of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in this country be allowed to work.

"According to the UNHCR, approximately 60 per cent of refugees and political asylum seekers in Malaysia can be employed, ” he said.

Meanwhile, Cameron Highlands Malay Vegetable Farmers' Association representative Syed Abd Rahman Syed Abd Rasid urged the government to ease the entry of foreign workers into the country.

He said if the process was simplified, the trafficking of illegal immigrants would not be as rampant.

“Do not make it difficult for foreigners to enter. When troublesome, there is room for deviation. If the process is more straightforward, it is better since many sectors are in need of foreign workers.

"If we ask for five foreign workers, we need to get five. In this case, if we ask for five workers, we only get two," he said.