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?
SEREMBAN, Dec 1 (Bernama) — The manufacturing sector in Negeri Sembilan has been informally told not to employ more than 50 per cent foreign workers because there are many locals who can fill the vacancies, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said from January till Sept 30, said a total of 42,045 employment permits were issued in the state with the bulk to the manufacturing sector, at 24,137 permits.
“The state government has held talks with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers on this because we feel the sector is employing far too many foreigners at the expense of locals.
“So we informally told them not to exceed 50 per cent in hiring foreign labour for their staffing needs,” he said during the State Assembly sitting here today.
However, he said the state government was “cutting some slack” on the matter for the construction and plantation and agriculture sectors as Malaysians were on keen to work in these sectors.
He added that from next year, errant employers in the manufacturing sector would be hauled to explain why they were giving priority to foreign workers.
Source: Bernama
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