Govt may allow refugees to fill labour gaps in 3D sectors

KUALA LUMPUR: The government may allow registered refugees to fill labour shortages in the 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) sectors to reduce Malaysia's dependence on foreign workers.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the proposal could be considered by examining data on about 225,000 people with refugee status, based on records maintained by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

He said the government intended to identify refugees of working age who had passed screening to assess their potential to meet the country's workforce needs.

"On the other hand, we have 225,000 people whom UNHCR recognises as refugees. They are right here in front of us. This is a big idea, but it has not been implemented yet.

"If we could compile data on these 225,000 people and identify those within the productive age range, such as 20, 25 or 30, who have been screened, we would have the data.

"Our intention is to meet workforce needs without necessarily recruiting from abroad.

"For example, if an oil palm plantation in Pasir Gudang needs 100 workers, there are two options. We could recruit workers from Bangladesh and pay all the associated costs, or check our existing refugee registration database.

"For now, I am not ruling out the possibility of taking this route to meet the actual workforce needs we face," he said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

He was responding to Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau), who sought clarification on whether the government planned to allow Rohingya refugees registered under the Refugee Documentation Programme (DPP) to work in the 3D sectors, particularly amid a shortage of foreign workers.

Saifuddin said foreign worker requirements were currently concentrated in five economic sectors, namely manufacturing, plantations, agriculture, construction and services.

He said labour shortages in these sectors could affect economic activities, particularly jobs such as harvesting oil palm fresh fruit bunches and laying bricks.

"There are five economic sectors that require workers. The Economy Ministry has set a ceiling on the number of foreign workers who can be brought in.

"Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the number must not exceed 10 per cent of the workforce. Our workforce stands at 17 million, meaning the ceiling is 1.7 million throughout the 13th Malaysia Plan for the five economic sectors.

"If these five sectors do not have foreign workers, our economy will be affected. That means there would be no one to harvest oil palm or lay bricks. That is the reality.

"Every year, the Home Ministry is among the regulatory agencies involved in decisions on approvals for foreign workers and related matters," he said.