Don’t blame locals for not taking up some jobs, says MTUC

Malaysian Trades Union Congress chief Halim Mansor says locals look for long-term career prospects as opposed to foreign workers.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) says it is unfair to pin the blame for employers’ preference to hire foreign workers on the local workforce’s attitude in demanding for “higher-end jobs”.

MTUC president Abdul Halim Mansor said there was a need to conduct proper studies to determine the reasons for locals not wanting to work in fields often deemed as “low-standard professions”.

Explaining that locals were more focused on taking up jobs with long-term career prospects, he said the occupations currently dominated by foreigners, such as construction workers and private security guards, offered no such prospects.

“If the government can make these jobs more professional and ensure workers there get benefits and protection, just like those who work in other professions, then it would not just attract locals but also motivate them to take up such jobs,” he told FMT.

Halim said for example, the work environment at fast food restaurants, like McDonalds and KFC, had attracted many young Malaysians to be employed there.

“Those who work there feel like they are recognised in their jobs, and given standardised uniforms, enough protection, a healthy environment and space for them to improve themselves.

“This is what the government should try to implement and think of in terms of improving future prospects in the job market,” he said.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had recently said it was conducting a feasibility study on whether it was possible for business outlets and restaurants to employ more locals.

KL mayor Mhd Amin Nordin was reported to have said that preliminary engagements with business operators had found that there were a lot of employment opportunities but locals did not seem interested as they preferred “higher-end jobs”.

“One operator who tried to employ more locals complained that the locals are not as disciplined or hardworking. Unlike foreign workers, they said the locals don’t have the stamina to work late into the night or do physically taxing work such as heavy lifting in wet markets,” Amin was quoted as saying.

However, Halim believes that employers are also recruiting foreigners due to the seemingly relaxed regulations when it comes to hiring migrant workers in the country.

He suggested that the government create a new policy to ensure fresh graduates work at registered employment places for at least a year for them to gain experience.

“That way, these graduates are not likely to be unemployed immediately after finishing their studies.” -FMT