Take charge of foreign worker recruitment, PM told

 

Klang MP Charles Santiago said Malaysia had become dependent on cheap, migrant labour.

PETALING JAYA: An MP has called on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to take charge of foreign worker recruitment, saying the home affairs and human resources ministries’ failure to resolve the problem is taking a “heavy toll” on businesses and the economy.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said Ismail should set up a special agency under the Prime Minister’s Office to reduce bureaucracy.

“There are too many vested interests (in this issue). The economy is suffering because of the inefficiency of two ministries,” he told FMT.

“We need someone to cut through all the nonsense, which is why the matter should be put under the prime minister.”

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Santiago’s comments come amid reports that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) raided several firms owned by a businessman with a “Datuk Seri” title who is involved in the recruitment of migrant workers.

The businessman is believed to be in control of the majority of the 25 Bangladeshi agencies selected for the recruitment of migrant workers.

According to a source, the MACC had received several complaints of corruption and abuse of power over the businessman’s alleged monopoly of foreign worker recruitment.

Bestinet Sdn Bhd, the IT system provider for the recruitment of workers from all source countries, later confirmed that its office had been raided by the MACC.

The firm owned by Amin Abdul Nor told FMT that it was fully cooperating with the authorities.

A labour agency in Dhaka previously accused Amin of “persuading” the government to limit the number of Bangladeshi agencies that supply labour to Malaysia to only 25.

While Santiago was happy that the MACC was looking into the matter, the DAP MP said the investigation and subsequent action would not solve the problem.

He said only an agency with no vested interests, with knowledge and expertise on the recruitment of foreign workers, could fix the problem.

“The sad truth is that we are addicted to cheap, migrant labour and we have become so dependent on them. Many businesses are stagnating or closing shop early because they just do not have the manpower.

“Some production areas, like agriculture, cannot maximise the use of the land due to shortage of workers, this includes chicken farms. Even factories are cutting down on production.” - FMT