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?
However, many companies were still finding it hard to secure general workers
even though the wages were more than twice what these workers earned before,
said state Minister of Plantation Enterprises and Commodities Datuk Peter Chin
Fah Kui.
<p>"The latest information compiled by the ministry showed that workers in
plantations and agriculture estates are earning very good income. </p>
<p>"Salaries for management staff are also very lucrative now, with a supervisor
earning between RM5,000 and RM6,000 a month. </p>
<p>"Estate managers earn even more. For example, in Sarawak, they can earn
at least RM12,000 a month," he said when interviewed yesterday. </p>
<p>Chin, who is Miri MP, said it was a pity that local youths continued to shun
jobs in the plantation sectors, thinking that these jobs were not as lucrative
as jobs in towns and cities. </p>
<p>As a result, plantations had to continue hiring larges numbers of foreign labourers.
</p>
<p>"The ratio of foreign workers to locals in the general worker category
now is 80:20. For drivers, it is about even. </p>
<p>"These jobs today come with good accommodation, modern facilities and
good prospects in terms of income," he said, noting that life in rural
areas was also less stressful compared with urban life. </p>
<p>Chin said his ministry would be holding a "Commodity Week" to highlight
the prospects in plantations and estate industries at the KL Mines Exhibition
Centre from Aug 8 to Aug 12. </p>
<p>In Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said steps would
be taken by the state government to encourage local youths to take up jobs in
the plantation sector. </p>
<p>He said there were ample job opportunities in the state’s fast growing plantation
sector. </p>
<p>"We have nearly 1.3 million hectares of oil palm plantations. </p>
<p>"But the number of locals employed in this sector is very low. </p>
<p>"It’s a real pity. We have large plantations, yet we are faced with the
problem of youths having no jobs," he said after a briefing from the ministry
here.
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