KOTA KINABALU – The lengthy time to obtain migrant workers is forcing Sabah employers to hire undocumented migrants to fill the shortage.
Warisan vice-president Datuk Junz Wong said the situation is further worsened with locals known to be job-hoppers and would only stick around for a matter of days or weeks.
This is especially true in the 3D sectors (dirty, dangerous, and demeaning), he added.
Wong pointed out that this situation negatively impacts the sustainability of business activities and hinders the government’s efforts to revive the economy.
“In general, all industries in Sabah are currently facing a critical shortage of manpower,” he said in a statement here today.
“Local Sabahans are not denied opportunities to work in certain industries, however most of them quit within a few days or weeks.
“The situation has hampered business activities’ sustainability and will hinder the government’s efforts to revive the economy.”
He said many employers have applied for foreign worker quotas at the Labour Department, but the approval process is very slow, as if not being processed at all.
Wong said the labour and immigration departments are not efficient in carrying out this responsibility, adding that employers who already have quotas, the process to secure migrant workers also takes an excessively long time.
This delay forces many employers to resort to hiring undocumented migrants, risking violations of immigration laws, he said.
“These employers are not willing to break the laws. In fact, they are willing to pay the full amount to employment agents for their processes, which shows their sincerity in complying with the existing laws.
However, they have to do so because government departments do not help expedite the approval process for migrant worker applications, he explained.
Wong acknowledged that employers should be able to make applications themselves, but due to their lack of familiarity with the processes and time constraints, they often turn to employment agents for assistance.
He questioned why Sabah has not implemented an undocumented migrant amnesty program similar to the one in the peninsula, which began after the formation of the unity government last year and continues until the end of the year.
Presently, employment agents in Sabah are facing difficulties in delivering services to employers, as bureaucracy in relevant departments hampers the completion of procedures.
This situation has put many employment agents in a difficult position and forced them to seek other business opportunities, he said. – The Vibes, August 1, 2023
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