Clarify SOPs for managing foreign workers quickly, govt told

 

The human resources ministry has abolished its foreign worker division and transferred its functions to the home ministry effective Aug 1. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

An activist has called on the home ministry to promptly list all SOPs for managing foreign workers, following its takeover of the foreign worker division’s functions from the human resource ministry.

North-South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira said clarity is crucial given the growth experienced by the semiconductor and plantations industries, among others, as well as the need for special permissions in certain sectors.

The matter needs to be handled expeditiously, he told FMT, because employers, labour recruiters, migrant workers and their families will be affected.

The clarification of these SOPs is crucial to ensure that foreign workers are managed according to International Labour Organization standards and industry best practices,

 he said.

Adrian also expressed surprise at the transfer of functions between the two ministries, as previous recommendations had favoured the human resources ministry continuing to handle this matter.

“How did they decide on this move when so many proposals were advocating for the management of foreign workers to remain under the human resources ministry?

We would assume that based on recommendations from official reports and even experts that the management of foreign workers should be led by the human resources ministry,

 he said.

On Monday, the human resources ministry announced it had abolished the foreign worker division and transferred its functions to the home ministry effective Aug 1.

The division manages the one-stop centre which reviews and approves foreign worker quotas and recruitment through the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System. These functions were previously carried out by the home ministry until 2022.

The human resources ministry did not explain the rationale behind the decision.

Another activist, Andy Hall, described the move as 

controversial

, as it placed foreign worker management under a single, security-focused agency like the home ministry.

He said Malaysia should instead establish a foreign worker management committee involving all relevant ministries to balance national, economic and human security concerns.

The best way forward in the long-term interests of the national, economic and human security of Malaysia, employers and importantly for vulnerable foreign workers living and working in the country is to have foreign worker issues managed holistically, under the leadership of the prime minister or deputy prime minister,

 said Hall. - FMT