KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 — The government’s decision to expand the Labour Recalibration Programme to include illegal immigrants in restaurant, cargo, wholesale and retail, and cleaning services sub-sectors would help resuscitate the national economy faster.
The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the extension would ensure that businesses in these sub-sectors as well as critical sectors such as construction, manufacturing and plantation would be able to quickly revive their operations.
“Though COVID-19 had compelled employers towards increased process automation, mechanisation and digitalisation, the availability of foreign workers is still critical to bringing industries and services sectors fully up to speed.
“MEF had pleaded with the government to allow foreign workers as they are still needed to resuscitate and revitalise the economy, especially in areas that are not able to attract local employees,” he said In a statement today.
Syed Hussain said the labour recalibration plan expansion was certainly good news for employers as it would prevent businesses from continuing to suffer huge losses due to labour shortage.
“At the same time, we urge employers to play a bigger role to educate their employees by creating awareness and providing the necessary support with a view to reduce the number of COVID-19 clusters at the workplace,” he added.
Syed Hussain was commenting on the recent decision by the Joint Committee on the Management of Foreign Workers to extend the Labour Recalibration Programme that was launched in November last year to regularise the foreign illegal workers in the country.
