Friday, February 19, 2016

HR Minister says 'NOT TRUE', then Zahid Hamidi says 'FREEZE' - 1.5 Million NEW migrant workers from Bangladesh?

Malaysian Minister of Human Resources, Richard Riot, saying it is NOT TRUE that Malaysia will be bringing in 1.5 million new Bangladeshi migrant workers.... When confronted with the statements allegedly made by Ahmad Zahidi, Malaysia's Home Minister, under whom is the Immigration Department, he stood firm stating "It came from him (Zahid) and I think I will stick to my answer saying that the 1.5 million is actually the number of registered Bangladeshi workers.". "The figure that has been mentioned is actually the number of workers registered with the government of Bangladesh through the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment." 

"The figure of 1.5 million Bangladesh workers is actually the number of workers registered with the Government of Bangladesh through the Ministry of Expatriates' welfare and Overseas Employment for the purpose of employment to 139 countries in the world, including Malaysia, Singapore, UAE and Saudi Arabia," he said. "The perception that 1.5 million workers will be brought in from Bangladesh to Malaysia to work is not true."

So, it seems that 1.5 million is figure of Bangladeshis registered in the system in their country - not meaning that they will all come to Malaysia. Richard also said, MoU signed did not mention any figure, just like other MoUs Malaysia has signed with seven other countries - Indonesia, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

The Immigration Department, under the Home Minister, approves and/or issues migrant worker work passes/permits, and maybe also does the LEVY collections. Really, all matters concerning workers should be under the Minister of Human Resources, including the approvals and LEVY collection policies. The Immigration Department should stick to the administrative function of issuing visas. They maybe can reject an application for a work visa/pass for reasons similar to why the disallow any normal visitors coming to Malaysia - security considerations. etc. 

All matters of Human Resource, Workers, employers and matters related must come directly under the Minister of Human Resources. This will also include the amount of Levy payable by employers of migrant workers. So employers and employer groups should be going to see the Minister of Human Resources - not the Home Minister on matters concerning human resources.

Richard Riot also revealed that currently Malaysia's labour policy is that the number of migrant workers in Malaysia SHALL NOT exceed 15% of the total labour force. 15% of the current labour force is 

Bangladeshi workers in the country totalled 282,287, while Indonesia still tops the list with 828,283 workers, followed by Nepali workers at 526,933...

Malaysia currently has 2,135,035 foreign workers,....The current workforce that we have in the country is 15.3 million.... Richard said it was Malaysia’s policy to ensure that the maximum number of foreign workers would not be more than 15 percent of the country’s total workforce.

Interestingly, our Home Minister (also Deputy Prime Minister), Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, also made a statement of his own today stating, '...The government today announced it has put on hold the recruitment of workers from all source countries until it ascertains the actual manpower needs of industries...."Foreign workers without valid documents or have overstayed in the country will be arrested and sent back to their country of origin,"...'He said enforcement against illegal foreign workers would be stepped up and implemented on a large scale in the country.'

Now, was there a recent (maybe yesterday??) Cabinet Meeting or some special cabinet meeting or the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers meeting recently that decided on this matter that Zahid Hamidi announced today?... 

See earlier related posts, some of which are as follows:-

MTUC stopped at gate of Ministry when they went to express views about '1.5 million NEW Bangladeshi migrants' plans?

101 Groups Letter to PM Najib - Employers should pay the Levy – Not Migrant Workers , Immoral for Malaysia to take from Workers to overcome national economic problems

Richard Riot - still Minister of Human Resources? Or now it is Zahid Hamidi? 1.5 million new Migrant Workers?

Singapore - Migrant Worker Employer Pay Levy, Quotas, Increased levy as you increase percentage of MW? Protection of local workers?

For local workers, employers pay extra 13% above their income to EPF - not so for migrant workers?]

 

 

1.5m Bangladeshi workers figure incorrect, says minister


Alyaa Azhar     Published     Updated     


Human Resources Minister Richard Riot has denied claims that the country will bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers.

At a press conference today, Richard said the widely spread perception was simply "not correct".

"The perception that 1.5 million workers will be brought in from Bangladesh to work in Malaysia is not true," Richard said.

"The figure that has been mentioned is actually the number of workers registered with the government of Bangladesh through the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

"This is not the number that will be recruited (by Malaysia). Bangladesh is sending workers to 139 countries throughout the world," he said.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed yesterday by both Malaysia and Bangladesh, he said, was just like any other MoUs.

When it was pointed out to him that Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was the one who announced the figure, Richard said he preferred to "stick to his answer".

He added: "It came from him (Zahid) and I think I will stick to my answer saying that the 1.5 million is actually the number of registered Bangladeshi workers."

Asked why he had allowed the perception to persist, Richard said he wanted to wait until the MoU was signed.

“That's the reason why I, as human resources minister, opted not to say anything.

“That's why I called for the press conference. Not until I signed (it)... it is perhaps rumours or hearsay, even though the word came from the deputy prime minister,” he said.

MoU subject to review

Putrajaya yesterday inked the deal with Dhaka to bring in the Bangladeshi workers into the country.

Zahid, in June last year, announced that 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers would be brought to Malaysia in stages to meet the needs of employers from numerous sectors.

The workers will enter Malaysia under the G2G (government-to-government) Plus scheme which allows them employment in the construction, service, manufacturing and agriculture sectors, apart from the existing plantation sector opened to them.

Meanwhile, Richard said the MoU signed did not mention any figure, just like other MoUs Malaysia has signed with seven other countries - Indonesia, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

However, the MoU will be subject to a review after five years.

Asked for the total number of Bangladeshi workers that will actually be brought in, the minister said it all depended on the demand.

Employers and companies, said Richard, must log in online, through the Bangladesh Workers Management System, to apply for workers.

There is currently no available list of companies that have registered, he said.

Sabah, Sarawak have own labour laws

Asked whether other states would follow the way of Sabah and Sarawak, which have stated that they would not accept Bangladeshi workers, Richard said the two states have their own labour ordinance.

“Other states in Peninsular Malaysia don't have their own labour ordinance. Therefore, the question of other states following suit does not arise,” he said.

Asked whether the government planned to reduce its reliance on foreign workers, Richard said it was Malaysia’s policy to ensure that the maximum number of foreign workers would not be more than 15 percent of the country’s total workforce.

“The current workforce that we have in the country is 15.3 million. (Some) 15 percent of this number is 2.3 million, we have not exceeded the figure.”

Although Malaysia currently has 2,135,035 foreign workers, he admitted that the cap at 2.3 million did not take into account illegal migrant workers.

“For every 10 legal foreign workers, there are eight illegal workers. That means there are about 1.7 million undocumented workers in the country,” he said.

Registered Bangladeshi workers in the country totalled 282,287, while Indonesia still tops the list with 828,283 workers, followed by Nepali workers at 526,933. - Malaysiakini, 19/2/2016

Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/330955#ixzz40bEboVKT


Zahid: Intake of all foreign workers on hold


Bernama     Published     Updated    


The government today announced it has put on hold the recruitment of workers from all source countries until it ascertains the actual manpower needs of industries.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the suspension would also enable the government to review the revised two-category levy on foreign workers.

He also said that the government would focus on the foreign worker rehiring programme and step up enforcement to ensure that no more foreigners entered the country as workers.

"Foreign workers without valid documents or have overstayed in the country will be arrested and sent back to their country of origin," he said at a casual meeting with soldiers at the Muara Tuang Camp, Sarawak.

He said enforcement against illegal foreign workers would be stepped up and implemented on a large scale in the country.

Zahid, who is also the home minister, said it was hoped that Malaysians, especially youths, would respond to the government call for local people to take up the jobs now held by foreigners and become the mainstay of the nation's workforce to drive national economic growth.

"The suspension will be in force until the government is satisfied with the manpower needs of the industries," he said.

More than 1,000 soldiers attended the gathering with Zahid, the first event of the deputy prime minister on his working visit to Sarawak beginning today.

Tomorrow, he is scheduled to attend a Prisons Day event in Padang Merdeka, Kuching, and conclude his visit. - Bernama - Malaysiakini, 19/2/2016

Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/330985#ixzz40bNAfhDa

Now Putrajaya says foreign worker recruitment suspended 


After much backlash, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says the recruitment of foreign workers has been put on hold. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, February 19, 2016.After much backlash, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says the recruitment of foreign workers has been put on hold. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, February 19, 2016.Putrajaya has put on hold recruitment of foreign workers from all source countries, including Bangladesh, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, one day after signing a deal with Dhaka to send workers here.

Zahid's announcement also comes hours after the human resources minister said not all of the 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers thought to be headed for Malaysia were meant for the country.
 
Datuk Seri Richard Riot had said the figure was merely the number of Bangladesh citizens registered with their government for employment.

Zahid was speaking in Kuching, Sarawak, today, where he said the suspension was decided after thorough consideration while the government would also review recent changes to the levy system on foreign workers. 
Both the new levy system, which imposes a higher payment on employers using foreign workers, and the plan to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers have been criticised by employer groups and trade unions.
 
Zahid, who is also home minister, said employers were urged to hire locals instead and the recruitment of foreign labour would be deferred until the need arises.
 
Additionally, the government would also focus on re-hiring programmes for local workers while increasing enforcement on undocumented migrant labourers.
 
"Those existing foreign workers, especially whose working permits have expired or are without proper document, they are not allowed to work in Malaysia," Zahid said after a function to meet army personnel at Camp Muara Tuang.
 
The plan to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers over three years was announced last year, but only recently did Zahid say that the figure was Bangladesh citizens who had registered with their government for work.
 
He had also defended the move saying locals did not want to do dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs (3D) and had challenged Malaysian youths to do so.
 
However, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) had pointed out that many Malaysians were working such jobs, but overseas, such as in Singapore, where the pay was better.
 
MTUC and MEF have long spoken against Malaysia's over-reliance on foreign labour at the expense of training locals in skilled work, and over the high amount of remittances at around RM30 billion flowing out of the country.
 
The new levy system has also been a sore point for employers, who must pay RM2,500 per worker in the manufacturing, construction and services sector, and RM1,500 per worker in the plantation and agricultural sector. – February 19, 2016, Malaysian Insider

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/now-putrajaya-says-foreign-worker-recruitment-suspended#sthash.LIfFJAp2.dpuf
 
 

Malaysia downplays foreign worker controversy

The Malaysian government has clarified reports that it had entered into an agreement with Bangladesh to bring in 1.5 million workers into the country over the next three years. 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia insists it is not bringing in 1.5 million Bangladeshi foreign workers into the country amid a backlash over the purported move.

Human Resources Minister Richard Riot held a press conference on Friday (Feb 19) to clarify the issue.

"The figure of 1.5 million Bangladesh workers is actually the number of workers registered with the Government of Bangladesh through the Ministry of Expatriates' welfare and Overseas Employment for the purpose of employment to 139 countries in the world, including Malaysia, Singapore, UAE and Saudi Arabia," he said. "The perception that 1.5 million workers will be brought in from Bangladesh to Malaysia to work is not true."

Later on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told a crowd in Kuching that the government was placing a freeze on all foreign workers.

Last week, reports emerged alleging that the Malaysian government would be entering into an agreement with the Bangladeshi government to bring in 1.5 million foreign workers into the country over three years.

This sparked uproar by groups worried about the impact such a move would have on the local labour market and questioning the government's motives for doing so. Some more extreme reactions came from NGOs linking foreign workers to disease and rape.

Officially, Malaysia has 2.1 million registered migrant workers - 282,287 of whom are Bangladeshi.

But the government estimates there are an additional 1.7 million undocumented foreign workers - using the estimate of seven undocumented workers for every 10 legal foreign workers.

Before the announcement by Mr Ahmad Zahidi, Mr Riot told reporters that the government was taking care to regulate the number of migrant workers according to demand from employers, capping the number at 15 per cent of the total workforce or 2.3 million foreign workers in a total workforce of 15.3 million.

"Any recruitment of Bangladesh workers shall be in accordance with Malaysia's policy, which is based on actual demand of employers from the various sectors that are allowed to hire foreign workers subject to the principle of demand and supply," he said in a statement to the the media.  - Channel News Asia, 19/2/2016

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