Kota Kinabalu: State Federal Secretary Datuk Makhzan Mahyuddin said nearly half the 800,000-odd workers registered with the Labour Department comprise foreigners. At the same time there are more than 100,000 unemployed Sabahans.
Further analysis of the figures show that the dependency on foreign manpower is contributed by several sectors such as agriculture, forestry and construction where more than 80 per cent employed are foreigners.
“Some 819,111 are registered under the Labour Department of which 55.2pc are locals and 44.8pc foreigners.
“Of the foreigners, 80.4pc have legal documents or covered under the Sabah Labour Ordinance.
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Also present were Sabah Labour Department Director Wan Zulkifli Wan Setapa and Sabah Social Security Organisation (Socso) Director Dr Mohd Ali Hindia, among others.
Due to a substantial number of locals being unemployed, he said a holistic solution is needed to address the issue.
This should include proper coordination as well as views from the private sector, non-governmental organisations and academics to enable the Federal and State Governments in drafting and planning policies as well as laws for the benefit of Sabah and the people,” he said.
Makhzan also reminded employers in Sabah to register their workers with the Sabah Labour Department or risk legal action.
Under the Sabah Labor Ordinance Section 59A, business premises are required to register with the department within 90 days and failure to do so can cost them up to RM10,000 in fines, upon conviction.
Under this section of the ordinance, any person or employer is required to give a written notification to any nearby JTK office regarding employment-related information, and failure to do so is an offence under Section 130E(f) of the Labour Ordinance (Sabah Chapter 67). Employers, whether new or seasoned, are required to register so that the Sabah Labour Department has a record of their businesses.
“In a limited time offered, the Labor Department is exempting compounds for employers in Sabah who wish to register with the department before Oct. 31. They can do so via scanning a QR code at jtksbh.mohr.gov.my/qrdaftar/.
“The department will not press charges or issue compounds to employers who register before the deadline, including those who have passed their 90-day premise operation registration limit,” he said.
On the convention, Makhzan said it is an initiative by the Labor Department to function as a platform for the Government to deliver the country’s latest relevant policies and laws to all parties to ensure that each policy or law that they implement can achieve the hopes and aspirations of industry players in the State.
This involved some 40 participants in the convention, including employers and human capital officers from various sectors, as well as representatives from employer associations, labor unions, NGOs and Institute of Higher Learning (IPTA) students.
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