THE Human Resources Ministry will introduce a new system – sector-specific identity cards – to address the problem of foreign workers in the country who are reported to have switched to other sectors arbitrarily. 

Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan said the high demand in the plantation sector, following the increase in oil palm prices, caused plantation owners to offer higher wages, resulting in workers switching over to the sector.

“This has caused some workers to switch to the sector so now we are trying to resolve this problem,” he said when met by reporters after officiating the Perak Jaminkerja Keluarga Malaysia Career Carnival 2022 at the Tapah Youth and Sports Complex today.

He said the introduction of the sector-specific identity card system would also ensure no employer misuses employee registration.

“Another problem I see is that the levy rate for the agricultural sector is lower, so many employers, even those in different sectors, bring in foreign workers through the agricultural channel because it is cheaper.

“By introducing the identity card system according to sector, we can address this issue and it will also facilitate authorities’ enforcement, especially the Immigration Department and police,” he said.

On Friday, Senior Works Minister Fadillah Yusof was reported to have said the increase in palm oil prices in the plantation sector has attracted workers from other sectors, affecting the construction sector after its workers switched over. 

Fadillah was reported to have said that the effect of the labour shortage in the construction sector could be seen as there were projects that have been delayed in completion, including the Pan Borneo Highway project. 

Meanwhile, Saravanan said he is confident that the issue of delays in the entry of foreign workers into the country would be resolved by the end of this month, and employers have been asked to be patient while waiting out the time-consuming process of hiring foreign workers.

“I am worried that many do not understand the process of hiring foreign workers. After the reopening of the country’s borders on April 1, only then employers can start applying and be processed,” he said. – Bernama, June 12, 2022.