AG report: Ensure efficient migrant worker management - minister

The Human Resources Ministry will ensure efficient management of migrant workers in the country despite several issues due to previous weaknesses, said its minister V Sivakumar.

He said his ministry has made several efforts to ensure the management of migrant workers through the Foreign Workers Integrated Management System (ePPAx) and Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS) is carried out efficiently.

“If the ministry identifies any wrongdoing by employers or agents who bring foreign workers to this country without employment or placement, the Labour Department has been instructed to take strict action,” he said.

Sivakumar was speaking to reporters after attending the Prime Minister’s Golden Hand Award and Skilled Person Award ceremony at the Shah Alam Convention Centre in Selangor today.

He was commenting on the Auditor General’s Report 2022, published yesterday, which recommended that the Human Resources and Home Ministry discuss and decide who will be fully responsible for the migrant worker management system without neglecting the needs of all stakeholders.

In another development, Sivakumar said so far, the Labour Department has not received complaints or reports regarding a Muslim Chinese restaurant in the capital which sacked its employee for wearing a cross at work.

He said his ministry would look into the matter if it received a complaint before taking any action against the restaurant worker’s sacking, which invited mixed reactions from various parties including Penang Mufti Wan Salim Wan Noor.

Touching on the Golden Hand Award, Sivakumar said it is the highest award given to the best overall winner in the WorldSkills Malaysia Youth (WSMB) and WorldSkills Malaysia Teacher (WSMP) competitions, recognising individuals who excel in skills or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), organised locally and abroad.

“The increase in the number of participants this year shows a positive indicator of youth’s deep interest and fighting spirit to pursue success in the field of skills,” he said.

The national-level skills competitions which include WSMB, WSMP, and the JuniorSkills Malaysia (JSM) pre-qualification stage were held from May 9 to June 12 with a total of 1,467 participants.

Of the total, 349 qualified for the final stage competition which ran from Sept 15 to Oct 16 in 28 contested fields for the WSMB, 10 for WSMP, and seven JSM categories.

Earlier, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who officiated the ceremony, also presented the Prime Minister’s Golden Hand Award to Muhammad Hakimi Abu Bakar and Mohd Fairuz Hamdzah, while the Skilled Person Award went to Shamsuddin Amran.

- Bernama