Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
Its Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad warned that employers taking
foreign workers without permits would not escape the long arm of the law.
<p>"There is no reason for employers not to hire foreign workers legally
as the government has introduced a system for them to do so," he told reporters
after opening the Masjid Tanah Umno delegates meeting here.</p>
<p>Radzi said this when asked to comment on Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri
Fong Chan Onn’s statement yesterday that Malaysia might need more than five
million foreign workers by 2010 if local employers’ dependence on them was not
checked.</p>
<p>Dr Fong was reported to have said that Malaysia now had about 1.8 million foreign
workers and that local employers kept submitting applications for more to the
Home Affairs Ministry every month.</p>
<p>The country depends on foreign workers because of a shortage of manpower in
selected sectors such as agriculture and construction as locals are not keen
to find work in them. — BERNAMA
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