KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 — Putrajaya is suspending the recruitment of all foreign workers including the 1.5 million Bangladeshis offered by Dhaka.
The decision was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.
“The government has decided to suspend the intake of foreign workers from providing countries, Bangladesh and to urge employers to hire local workers,” Ahmad Zahid said on Twitter today.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak previously said Putrajaya will review the decision to recruit at least some of the 1.5 million Bangladeshis following public outcry over the proposal.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also home minister, added that the moratorium will remain in effect until Putrajaya is convinced about the actual manpower requirements in the various sectors locally.
He further said the government will shift its focus on re-skilling the local workforce to meet existing demands.
“Foreign workers who do not have documents or have overstayed, they will be detained and deported,” he was quoted as saying in Samarahan by national news agency Bernama.
The DPM's announcement came after Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot impressed upon Malaysians the need to bring in foreign workers to address what he said were critical labour shortages in the manufacturing and plantation sectors.
Putrajaya is facing resistance and criticism from several civil and trade groups over its plan to bring in the foreign workers in significant numbers.
Workers groups such as the Malaysian Trade Unions Congress (MTUC) said locals should be given priority for jobs. It acknowledged Malaysians' tendency to reject 3D jobs, but argued that it was only because of the low pay.
