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?
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Putrajaya has yet to confirm the appointment of MyEG as the sole company to handle the renewal of foreign worker permits, a minister said today amid an investigation into the e-government services provider’s alleged monopoly.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low said the federal government was currently conducting a “proof of concept” for MyEG and stressed that immigration counters will remain open until online services become the preferred channel to renew foreign worker permits.
“As for MyEG, the government wishes to clarify that the company is currently conducting a ‘proof of concept’, and there is no definite commitment in the appointment of the company as the sole and only entity to do the renewal of PLKS (Pas Lawatan Kerja Sementara),” Low said in a statement.
“The government also intends to provide similar or enhanced online processing for both recruitment and renewal using the e-PPA (e-Permohonan Pekerja Asing) currently in existence at the Ministry of Human Resources (MoHR),” he added.
The minister said e-PPA was not available immediately as the Human Resources Ministry needed about two months to improve the system.
The Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) said last week that it has started investigations into claims of monopoly against MyEG over the renewal of foreign worker permits.
PKR lawmakers have demanded that the federal government explain the decision to outsource the permit issuance to MyEG, claiming that the firm could profit as much as RM100 million annually from collecting the fees.
The introduction of the new system had caused confusion at Immigration Department branches nationwide after employers and their agents were directed to use MyEG’s new online system in place of the discontinued permit counters.
Public outcry forced the Immigration Department to reopen the permit counters, with the department’s director-general Datuk Mustafa Ibrahim saying last month that the counters would stay open until February 28.
“As part of the reform, the government will increase the use of online processing to improve data capture and faster access to information and also to reduce the backlog and waiting time at counters. The government assures the public that counters will continue to be opened as long as there is still a need for it,” Low said today.
Source: Malay Mail Online
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com