Wan Junaidi (centre) being briefed by Robert. On his left is August. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Plantation companies that wish to recruit foreign labourers must first have at least 30 per cent local workers in their employ.
Deputy Home Minister Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said priority should be given to Sarawakians to fill up vacancies in plantation sector, which is currently facing a shortage of workers.
Because the majority of Malaysians are not willing to take up the ‘3D’ jobs (dangerous, dirty and demeaning), the government will have to recruit 12,000 Bangladeshi workers to make up for the shortage, he said.
It is hoped the ratio of local workers can surpass the minimum requirement of 30 per cent, say up to some 50 per cent or even more, he told a press conference yesterday following a briefing with State Immigration Department director Datu Robert Lian and State Labour Department director August Buma on the proposed guidelines in recruiting Bangladeshi workers.
Another requirement is for companies to advertise their vacancies for the local people to know. They must do sufficient advertising and if that still cannot get them enough workers, they can then discuss with the State Immigration Department to recruit foreign workers, Wan Junaidi said, adding that companies were not allowed to use an agent to hire foreign workers.
He said Bangladeshi workers would be brought straight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), and upon arrival, a representative from the state government or State Labour Department and the employer would receive them.
He suggested that companies that hire Bangladeshi workers should place them in accommodation near the plantation they work on, and the accommodation must have adequate facilities.
This, he explained, is to prevent the foreign workers from roaming freely in our cities and also to limit them from socialising with local communities.
He advised companies to be responsible for foreign employees’ welfare and not try to manipulate them in terms of their salary and basic benefits.
Wan Junaidi said companies must also ensure their Bangladeshi workers return to their country after the 5-year contract unless the contract is renewed.
On the possibility of Bangladeshi workers running away, Wan Junaidi said he was studying the immigration law and policy to create a system in which companies would ensure their workers depart the country once their contract expires.
Sarawak currently has 139,761 foreign workers based on the latest statistics provided by the State Immigration Department and a total of 13,167 foreign workers have completed their contract and returned to their respective countries last year.