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 the committee would discuss
the possibility of lifting the three-month freeze on the hiring of new foreign
workers.
<p>"The meeting will focus on the shortage our industries say they are facing,
which is somewhere between 370,000 and 400,000 workers in sectors such as manufacturing,
plantation, construction and services," he said after his ministry’s post-Cabinet
meeting.</p>
<p>"It will also focus on other foreign labour policies," he said, adding
that the meeting would be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib
Tun Razak. </p>
<p>Dr Fong said the Cabinet was concerned that the shortage would affect the nation’s
economic growth. </p>
<p>The ministry, he said, would also be submitting to the Cabinet committee the
outcome of a meeting it had held with employers last week. </p>
<p>"At the meeting, the Government had promised to try to resolve the shortage
as soon as possible because they have indicated to us that the situation is
quite serious. </p>
<p>"We have urged bosses to take in locals as an immediate measure to fill
the vacancies," he said.
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