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KUALA LUMPUR: The shortage of plantation workers has left the government with no choice but to allow the recruitment of Bangladeshis.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot, clarifying the request for recruitment of 12,000 Bangladeshi workers into Sarawak, said the action was necessary to meet the demand of fast growing economic development in the state.
“The Sarawak Labour Department, through numerous job placement programmes, including its latest, called ‘Azam 1Malaysia Job Placement Programme’, had invited employers, including those in the plantation industry, to offer jobs on the spot to local job seekers.
“However, out of 5,856 jobs offered, there were no takers in the plantation sector. This shortage has been happening for the past few years, compelling employers in the sector to resort to recruiting foreign labour to meet their manpower requirement,” he said.
However, he said the demand for 12,000 workers was only an estimation based on feedback conveyed by the stakeholders, in particular, Sarawak’s plantation sector.
“The recruitment will also be done in stages as the actual demand by employers will need to be scrutinised by a committee consisting of related government agencies.”
Commenting on his visit to Bangladesh on Aug 18 to 20, Richard said it was to ensure that the workers recruited to work in the country were free from criminal records, medically fit for employment and not carriers of contagious diseases.
“Through this mechanism, the recruitment processes are carried out without the involvement of any third party, agent, outsourcing company or employer.”
He said the mechanism, which would minimise the recruitment cost from RM13,000 to RM1,300, would prevent any form of profiteering from human trafficking and smuggling activities.
“The ministry is as concerned with regard to the employment of foreign labour in the country as it has always been the government’s policy to give priority to local job seekers.
“However, if not for the foreign labour, the plantation industry,
being one of the mainstays of Sarawak’s economy, would have collapsed.”
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia A.K.M. Atiqur Rahman on Monday had said some 12,000 skilled and semi-skilled Bangladeshi workers would be recruited to
work at various sectors in Sarawak following a request from the ministry.
The request will be finalised during a meeting between Malaysia, Bangladesh and the state governments on Nov 5 here.
Source: New Straits Times Online
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