KUALA LUMPUR – Despite the government’s expansion of its labour recalibration programme being seen as a boon to employers and migrant workers, human rights activists contend that it fails to tackle problems related to the management of the foreign labour force.
They said the expanded programme, which enables foreigners staying in Malaysia illegally to be employed in several services sub-sectors, does not resolve several pressing issues involving the foreign workforce.
“Despite this announcement, migrant workers remain in poor living conditions and are subjected to horrific treatment, contributing to further victimisation,” North-South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira told The Vibes.
“In the end, the government fails to address the root causes of human trafficking and forced labour. So, despite the announcement, we can expect these instances to continue.”
He asked the Immigration Department where fees and compounds have gone following years of collection from similar programmes.
“In past years, as shared by Tenaganita, the number of recalibrations has reportedly been poor.”
There is a need to focus resources on beefing up labour inspections as the Human Resources Ministry keeps lamenting that it does not have enough inspectors, he said.
He added that the arrest and detention of migrant workers have not achieved anything practical, instead wasting taxpayers’ money and human resources.
“The raids seem to have zero impact on reducing irregular migration, as industries have already become addicted to their irregularity.
“There seems to be some ‘systemic cognitive dissonance’ in the government machinery on the management of labour in this country.
“The issue of migrant workers is just one aspect of labour that has a huge impact on our labour policy.
“Sadly, these gaps in policy are also motivated by sinister agendas that we have failed to address as a nation in an authentic way.”
Fees paid, but undocumented status remains
Tenaganita director and consultant Joseph Paul Maliamauv said Putrajaya’s latest move is correct in a way, but the mechanism behind it is still unclear.
“It is an unresolved issue. Before this, when earlier recalibration exercises were announced and executed, many (undocumented) migrant workers paid up to RM5,000 each in processing fees to the authorities, but failed to become legal workers.
“Many ended up being deported, or continued to work as illegals in the country. Were they ever refunded?”
He said the Back for Good programme launched by the Immigration Department in August 2019 saw 700,000 migrant workers registering and paying for the rehiring scheme, but fewer than 200,000 were given work permits.
“Other than the processing fees borne by employers, I believe that migrant workers should not be charged any fee at all if the rate of approval is going to be as low this time around.”
The comments follow a joint announcement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan that the labour recalibration programme is being extended to some services sub-sectors, including restaurant, cargo, wholesale and retail, and cleaning and washing.
The deal was reached following a joint committee meeting on the management of foreign workers, co-chaired by Hamzah and Saravanan, on April 22.
“This decision was made to help the government revive the country’s economy immediately, and to prevent critical sectors, such as construction, manufacturing, plantation and services, from suffering huge losses due to labour shortages,” said Hamzah after the meet. – The Vibes, April 29, 2021
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