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Malaysia plans to regulate foreign labour intake

SINGAPORE: Malaysia has announced plans to reduce its surplus foreign workforce and regulate the fresh intake of labour from abroad.

Indicating the possibility of a drastic cut over time, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister for Human Resource Abdul Rahman Bakar said the details of a new and comprehensive labour policy were being worked out. It might be ready by March.

Mr. Abdul Rahman was quoted by Malaysia’s national news agency as saying that the total foreign workforce, over two million now, would be gradually reduced by 50 per cent by the year 2015. Further reductions were also being planned in follow-up measures.

The objective was to open up new opportunities for the local labour force and recruit foreigners in only some sectors like construction and plantations. Limits might also be set for the intake of foreigners in some other areas, the Minister hinted.

Malaysia would like its own nationals to take up frontline jobs that would project the country’s distinctive image in places such as airports and hotels.

The question of a large foreign workforce has become a politically sensitive debating point in Malaysia in recent years. Neighbouring Indonesia accounts for a high proportion.

Malaysia, on January 9, “cleared the air” by stating that there never was an order to suspend or stop the intake of workers from India. It was also clarified that there was no plan to limit the recruitment of Indian professionals by Malaysian firms.

It was stated, at the same time, that Malaysia was beginning to address the problem of a surplus foreign workforce.

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