30,000 foreign workers needed to work in 3 sectors, says Sivakumar

 

V Sivakumar says the Cabinet will discuss the best mechanism to recruit workers for barber shops, textile shops and goldsmith shops.

KLANG: Three business sectors – barber shops, textile retailers, and goldsmiths – are experiencing a shortage of at least 30,000 workers, says human resources minister V Sivakumar.

He said the actual number of foreign workers to be recruited to fill these vacancies will be finalised at the Cabinet meeting on Friday.

“We understand the urgent needs of these three sectors.

“We need to discuss the best mechanism to solve this problem,” he told reporters after inspecting business premises in Little India along Jalan Tengku Kelana here.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced yesterday that the government was relaxing its “freeze” on hiring foreign workers following frequent appeals from barber shops, textile retailers, and goldsmiths.

However, Anwar attached a condition that local youths must also be trained to fill these vacancies.

On another matter, Sivakumar said the National Wages Consultative Council would review the minimum wage at least once every two years.

He said the council would take into account socio-economic indicators such as the consumer price index (CPI), poverty line income, employers’ ability to pay workers’ wages, labour productivity rate, and the unemployment rate.

“Experienced and skilled workers should receive wages above the minimum wage.” - FMT