Allow businesses to directly hire foreign workers: Malaysian Indian Business Association

JOHOR BARU - The Malaysian Indian Business Association (MIBA) has urged the Malaysian Government to liberalise the recruitment of foreign workers by allowing small-medium industries to hire them directly.

MIBA President P. Sivakumar pointed out that the abuse of foreign workers in the country started when outsourcing companies were given a free hand to import workers.

“Many of them abused the system and brought in thousands of workers. When there was no work, they left the workers stranded at airports and plantations,” The Star Online quoted Sivakumar, as sayings

“Obviously, the workers, who had paid huge amounts of money to come here, then went into hiding and worked illegally,” he added.

Sivakumar said that the problems involving foreign workers would be dealt effectively if the Government allows businesses requiring foreign workers to deal directly with embassies and high commissions.

Sivakumar said many businesses, especially restaurants, laundry shops, goldsmiths, barbers, hair salons and mini markets, were suffering due to scarcity of foreign workers.

He added that the association had been flooded with calls from businesses wanting the Government to either legalise or allow them to recruit foreign workers directly. (ANI)