Half of foreign workers in the country are illegal

Weaknesses in enforcement and a too liberal policy were cited as among the contributory reasons.

KUALA LUMPUR: Half or 2.9 million of the 5.8 million foreign workers in the country do not have valid documents.

National Council of Professors (MPN)’s Politics, Security And International Affairs Cluster secretary, Abdul Halim Sidek said this at a conference relating to Malaysia’s foreign workers dilemma, here yesterday.

According to him, the influx of undocumented foreign workers was due to weaknesses in enforcement and a liberal policy that kept changing to accommodate needs. He cited the tourist-friendly policy and international education policy which provided an avenue for foreigners to obtain a work pass or student visa and misuse it to work and overstay in the country.

“Higher learning institutions springing up unmonitored like mushrooms after the rain are being used as ‘vehicles’ by foreigners to enter the country,” he said while presenting his working paper, “The impact of foreign workers on the country’s political wellbeing and security”.

Abdul Halim also proposed that the government introduce a consistent and comprehensive foreign workers policy or a permanent institution that could resolve the dilemma.

“Enforcement activities also require an integrated approach among all the agencies involved, and ‘territorial’ attitude must be avoided,” he stressed.

He said the measures taken to reduce dependence on foreign workers had failed because of the country’s dire need for them as cheap labour, and their contribution to the country’s gross domestic product and national export growth.

“There must be efforts to minimise the number of foreign workers albeit in stages to ensure that main sectors like industries, plantations and construction would not be adversely affected,” he said.

- BERNAMA