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?
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said making it a must would
limit employers to a small pool of people when searching for dedicated and hardworking
staff.
<p>“I will talk to the private sector on this and I hope this demand for
Mandarin proficiency when employing new workers will stop,” he said after
meeting Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli at his office yesterday.
</p>
<p>“Language proficiency can be provided as part of an in-house programme
for employees and need not be for Mandarin only,” he said. </p>
<p>“Employees should also be conversant in English and Bahasa Malaysia.”
</p>
<p>On Tuesday, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had asked the private sector to stop making it compulsory for local graduates to be proficient
in Mandarin. </p>
<p>In Kuala Lumpur, Bernama reported Overseas Umno Club Alumni chairman Ahmad
Zaini Ismail as saying that such restrictive conditions would create problems
for Malaysians in seeking jobs after completing their studies overseas. </p>
<p>However, Malaysian Human Rights Commissioner Prof Dr Chiam Heng Keng had a
contrary view. </p>
<p>“From the eye of the employer, there is no discrimination,” she said,
adding that the companies’ management had the right to select the most appropriate
candidate for a particular post.
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