Employment priority for local workers

o If available job vacancies are filled, then we do not need foreign workers, says Saravanan

TAPAH: The government will give priority to local workers to fill vacancies in various employment sectors in the country instead of foreigners.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said with the unemployment rate at 4.8% in the country, the government must ensure that available job opportunities would be filled by local workers, Bernama reported.

“After the locals have filled the available vacancies and we are satisfied with the results, we will then bring back foreigners,” the Tapah MP said.

He was speaking after officiating at Ansonex Malaysia Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre in Tapah road yesterday.

It was estimated that 10 months after the first movement control order was declared to curb the spread of Covid-19, about 100,000 people had lost their jobs.

Saravanan said the ministry must also carefully examine vaccination certificates from foreigners to verify that the documents are authentic before the workers are hired.

It is believed that there have been cases in several countries where foreign workers have been found to have falsified vaccination certificates.

Saravanan said the high prevalence of Covid-19 cases around the world also caused international borders of some countries to remain closed.

“So, how do you expect us to bring in foreign workers? he asked.

He was commenting on an allegation by Beruas MP Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham that Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and Saravanan were the main cause of the labour shortage in the country because they were hesitant in handling the issue.

Ngeh also claimed that the increase in prices of most goods in the country was due to the two ministries not being able to reach a prompt decision in addressing the labour shortage.

Saravanan said his ministry agreed with Hamzah’s statement that the government should not be hasty to bring in foreign workers, as thorough vetting, including taking into account health safety factors, was needed.