MTUC sees red as local firm sacks M’sians to hire foreigners

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has urged the government to ensure companies prioritise the local workforce to address the country’s labour shortages.

This is following news that a local company in Nilai had terminated 30 locals, to be replaced with foreigners including those from Nepal, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

MTUC secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor said the company had exploited the government’s concerted effort to resolve the labour shortages faced by industries.

“Reports of 403,869 applications for foreign labour to the Immigration Department worry MTUC as they would reduce locals’ chances be employed,” Kamarul said in a statement today, adding that the unfair termination of local workers will become rampant.

“The government must control the entry of foreign labour and ensure local workers are not affected by the greed of employers who want to hire non-Malaysians,” he stressed.

He added that the government should set a timeframe to reduce local industries’ dependence on foreign labour, adding that it also should prepare a white paper regarding the issue.

The government, he said, should strive to provide employment opportunities to locals and improve their low wages.

Kamarul added that certain Malaysian-produced commodities were barred from being exported to other countries in the past due to forced labour issues involving foreign workers. – The Vibes, December 17, 2022