TAWAU: The member of parliament here, Datuk Chua Soon Bui, has questioned the Home Affairs Ministry for using two policy systems to employ foreign workers in the plantation sector, especially the oil palm industry.
Chua who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice president, said she had brought the matter to Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong after receiving complaints from the smallholders in the east coast of Sabah.
The smallholders cried foul that foreign workers employed under big plantations would be allowed a renewal on a 5+5 years basis while foreign workers for smallholder plantations, especially the oil palm sector, were not allowed the 5+5 years renewal but had to be sent back after their five-year term expired.
“This has caused a lot of inconvenience to the smallholders, who have to re-apply for the new quota of workers which will take time, burdening the employers having to pay another RM1,000 for each new worker. These plantations would suffer losses if their harvesting was left unattended,” she said.
Chua said according to Lee, his ministry had started with the 5+5 years of renewal for foreign workers for the plantations only, but the policy had been opened up to all foreign workers across the board more than one month ago.
Lee also informed her that employers should have no problem on the 5+5 years renewal from now on.
After hearing his assurance, Chua hoped all the relevant departments in the Home Affairs Ministry have been informed of the policy to avoid further confusion.