Govt to prepare jobs for ex-cons to replace migrant workers

The government intends to open up more job opportunities for ex-convicts to replace migrant workers in the country, the Parliament was told today.

Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar said this was because ex-prisoners, especially those who served time for minor offences, could still work and be productive.

“We can use them (ex-convicts) to replace migrant workers. Efforts have been made by the ministry, in collaboration with the Home Ministry, and they are implemented through the Social Security Organisation (Socso) with training provided.

“Many (former prisoners) have been given job opportunities. Prisoners are given training and when they come out, they can join the employment market,” he said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat.

He was responding to a supplementary question from RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) who asked if the government plans to become the facilitator between employers and prisons to have ex-convicts replace migrant workers.

Meanwhile, in response to the original question from Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) about the number of migrant workers in the country, Sivakumar said as of Sept 30, the total number projected was 2,730,153.

He said they included 1,830,828 active Temporary Employment Pass holders, 152,158 migrant workers who had yet to enter the country, and 747,167 registered undocumented immigrants under the Workforce Recalibration Programme 2.0.

“The use of migrant workers is to meet the labour needs of certain sectors that are difficult to fill with local workers.

“Therefore, the government implements various initiatives, across ministries and agencies, to encourage the local workforce to venture into jobs in sectors dominated by migrant workers.

“The ministry encourages industries to switch to the use of automation, mechanisation, and digitalisation that can create demand for high-skilled workers, thus gradually reducing the dependence on low-skilled migrant workers,” he added.

- Bernama