Nur Jazlan: Bosses root cause of foreign worker woes

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed told Malay Mailyesterday thousands of foreigners, brought in legally to work at construction sites,  were not paid wages when the project was about 80 per cent complete.

Being abandoned by their bosses, they had no choice but to find work elsewhere, said Nur Jazlan.The same employers create another problem by applying for a fresh batch of foreign workers for new projects.

He said: “This is seen in every other construction project, and this is where we see a surge in foreign workers in the country.”

The “runaway construction workers” who secured jobs in others sectors are automatically labelled “illegals” as their work permits and other travel documents are held by their former employers, he added.

He said this created an influx of unskilled foreign workers in the country.

The rehiring programme will allow those who have been working here but are no longer attached to their original employers to obtain proper documents thereby curbing the need to bring in more workers, he said.

The Immigration Department has arrested 172 employers for habouring illegal workers and deported 12,313  of them since January 1 to February 24.

The Pulai MP said the rehiring programme will see employers pay a levy for each worker. The money will be used  by the government to cover operations involving foreign workers.

Under the new structure, employers in the manufacturing, construction and service sector have to pay RM2,500 for each worker while those in the plantation and agriculture industries will pay RM1,500 per worker.But there are those who don’t pay the levy and resort to hiring undocumented workers. This will not happen if employers adhered to the law and paid attention to employees.”

He said the government wanted to reduce the number of foreign workers in the country but needed to find a balance to ensure the various sectors were not jeopardised.

“With them being part of our system, we are enjoying cheaper facilities and services due to cheap labour. If we remove them from the equationthe cost of services and products will rise.

“Some 40 years ago, the manufacturing industry opened its doors to locals and today it is the foreigners who dominate the menial jobs. But we cannot continue to rely on foreign workers and the industries should instead look into automation.”

He said employers should reduce the burden on enforcement authoritiesthe cost of services and products will rise.

“Some 40 years ago, the manufacturing industry opened its doors to locals and today it is the foreigners who dominate the menial jobs. But we cannot continue to rely on foreign workers and the industries should instead look into automation.”

He said employers should reduce the burden on enforcement authorities

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