Johari: Reliance on foreign workers must be reduced

AYER KEROH: Malaysia must reduce its dependence on foreign labour in phases by expanding the adoption of automation, robotics and digital technology, particularly within the manufacturing sector.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said this approach is crucial to ensure the sustainability of domestic industry without remaining perpetually reliant on foreign workers to meet operational needs.

"Our country already has 2.6 million foreign workers, and under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), we must control this figure gradually.

"We cannot rely on foreign workers for everything. We need to identify mechanisms that allow businesses in Malaysia to operate without being completely dependent on foreign labour," he told reporters after attending a dialogue session with the business community in Melaka yesterday.

Johari said foreign labour is still required for roles categorised as 3D — dirty, difficult and dangerous — but industry must transition towards a more sustainable business model.

He said prolonged reliance on foreign labour is not a viable long-term solution, as experienced personnel must eventually return to their home countries, compelling employers to train new recruits from scratch.

He added that the manufacturing sector in particular needs to ramp up the adoption of technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, to create higher-skilled jobs.

Such a shift, he said, is also vital to provide more suitable career opportunities for educated and skilled local talent.

"I understand this is not easy, as our culture of dependency on foreign labour has been deeply entrenched for a very long time.

"Therefore, this transition is not something that can be achieved in a year or two. It requires time," he said.

Meanwhile, Johari said the local workforce, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, must be granted more opportunities to gain practical experience and master industry skills.

He added that there was a need to explore ways to retain the expertise of experienced foreign workers in manufacturing, whilst simultaneously intensifying training for local staff to enable them to take over those roles.