'Lift temporary suspension on migrant workers recruitment process'

 

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has opposed a government's decision to temporarily suspend the application for the recruitment of migrant workers for two weeks - between Aug 15 and Aug 31.

In a statement yesterday, FMM president Soh Thian Lai (above) said the foreign worker application procedure should not be stopped because it would disrupt the current economic recovery.

"This has created much confusion as well as anxiety among the industry as many employers are still in the process of replacing their workers who have left during the Covid-19 pandemic period following the freeze in recruitment for the past two years," he said.

Some employers are also in the process of expansion due to an increase in demand and the need to fulfil backlog in orders, said Soh.

"The frequent suspension of the processing of foreign worker applications is very disruptive to the planning of the industries in getting their workers when industries continue to face numerous challenges to their operations including labour shortages that are impairing their ability to operate at maximum capacity towards business recovery," he said.

The previous suspension was between June 1 and June 15.

"Employers require more time for submitting their applications as worker requirements are dependent on projects and orders.

"The stoppage and any changes to the procedure will derail the manpower planning of the industry, which will lead to their inability to fulfil their projects and orders," he said.

Serious labour shortage

Soh further said that there are still many applications pending processing and approval, and the industry requires a very efficient processing system for a quick turnaround on the applications.

"As such, FMM reiterates its call for the Human Resources Ministry to maintain the current application procedure and conditions as the labour shortages faced now are extremely serious and impacting the pace of business recovery," he said.

It was reported on Aug 10 that the application for the recruitment of foreign workers would be suspended from Aug 15 to Aug 31.

This is to allow the review of the application procedure, following the amendment of the Employment Act 1995, which takes effect next month.

The suspended procedure includes the decentralisation of the interview process via the One Stop Centre at the state labour offices to allow the industry a seamless process of foreign worker application. - Mkini