KUCHING – Calls are growing louder to rescind Sarawak’s decision to rope in some 27,000 migrant workers to ease the state’s labour-starved logging camps, oil palm plantations and construction sites.
“Despite suggestions by many to implement a one-off lockdown in Sarawak to severely curb Covid-19 infections, the state government is instead opening entry points to 27,000 migrant workers. This will be disastrous,” Parti Bumi Kenyalang president Voon Lee Shan told The Vibes.
“The state government must pay heed to the voices of caution. We had Covid-19 under control last year when we had our first movement control order. But now, we are prolonging our health battle by admitting thousands more migrants into the state.”
Voon said allowing these migrants into the state will set off a massive infection resurgence.
“There are many locals at the moment who are in need of jobs, why not hire them? Job priority should be given to our locals, not foreigners. These foreign workers not only bring in Covid-19 infections but can increase the infectivity rate.
“These foreigners may bring in other diseases like tuberculosis with them.”
Michael Kong, special officer to state DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen, said Sarawak should put on hold the recruitment of foreign workers.
“While I can see the importance of restarting the economy, nothing is more important than people’s lives and safety.
“As a state that always boasted itself of having billions in reserves, the government should consider using these savings now. There is no point in having a budget surplus when the people are suffering now.
Kong said the reserves must be used now to encourage local employment via matching grants or wage subsidy.
“This will not only increase employment rates but at the same time help the locals get jobs to lift themselves from the current economic challenges.”
Meanwhile, Parti Aspirasi Sarawak president Lina Soo has slammed the move to admit more foreign workers.
“Why should we risk the lives of our own people for the sake of large oil palm plantations? How does allowing in these foreign workers, documented and undocumented, help the local populace?
“It has already been proven that the state has failed to contain the spread of Covid-19 infections in our communities.
“Our own people are already unemployed but giant multinational companies prefer to pay pittance to foreign workers for more profits.
“Why not recruit our own people and pay them fair wages, provide them with proper living quarters and other allowances?”
Last week, the Society for Rights of Indigenous People of Sarawak called on the state to immediately halt the intake of the 27,000 migrant workers.
Its secretary-general Michael Jok said the state cabinet must rescind its March 1 decision on the 27,000 migrant workers.
The approval came after state authorities conceded that low-paid migrant labour was urgently needed at logging camps, oil palm plantations and construction sites.
Jok warned of a potential Covid-19 resurgence if the state borders are reopened.
“The situation will be even more disastrous because ‘undocumented’ workers will also be able to sneak in during the recruitment exercise.” – The Vibes, March 24, 2021
