Kota Kinabalu: Sabah needs full autonomy over the labour laws, including the hiring of foreign workers, to fill the workforce gap in its infrastructure development, says Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) Tanjung Aru Division Chief Hiew Choon Yu.
He said Sabah is facing a shortage of labour that can fulfil the requirements of such development.
“Indonesia’s planned capital move to Kalimantan will bring economic benefits to Sabah and Sarawak which share a border with Indonesia. The construction of the Pan Borneo Highway, as well as developing towns adjacent to Kalimantan, requires not only funds but also workforce,” he said.
Hence, he hoped the Federal Government could expedite the devolution of power to hire foreign workers to Sabah and Sarawak in the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) so that they can have a share in the development of infrastructure.
He pointed out that in the national 2023 Budget, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had allocated RM6.5 billion in development funds to Sabah.
“Through the restoration of Sabah’s autonomy and labour control, Sabah’s potential benefits can generate additional income that could bring an extra RM700 million annually to Sabah’s treasury,” he said.
Hiew said Sabah already had its own labour law (Chapter 67) before forming Malaysia. “We should strive for all the rights in MA63, including Sabah’s labour law, to be devolved to us by the Federal Government.”
Hiew pointed out that one of the main reasons for the shortage of labour in Sabah is the Federal Government’s control over hiring of foreign workers.
“It is more suitable for Sabahans to control their own workforce because they have a better understanding of the local situation, and the approval process for foreign workers will become more efficient,” he said.
He also supported the suggestion of Star President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan that Sabah should establish its labour bureau to regain control of labour recruitment, including foreign workers, to accelerate the development of infrastructure in Sabah.
He said according to research by the East Malaysia Planters Association, Sabah loses about RM400 to RM500 million annually from the palm oil tax due to a shortage of labour.
Hiew also said young people are no longer willing to work in “3D” jobs (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) and the proposal for the Federal Government to devolve the power to hire foreign workers to Sabah is not to compete with young people for job opportunities.
“Instead, it is urgent to expedite the approval process for foreign workers, which can be done by the Sabah Government if the power is devolved, to provide job opportunities for Sabahans and to fill the workforce gap.”
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