THE Human Resources Ministry’s decision to extend the relaxation of conditions on foreign worker recruitment to the tourism industry will help solve 10% to 20% of its manpower needs, industry players said.

Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) president Paul Paw said the move would greatly assist the labour-intensive industry rebound from the havoc wreaked by the Covid-19 pandemic – during which thousands of workers left the sector or were laid off following a standstill forced by the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Paw – describing the industry as “hard hit” resulting in the massive lay-offs – said a hotel with 500 staff pre-pandemic, was forced to lay off 400 people.

He told The Malaysian Insight hotels now find it difficult to fill those positions, such as in housekeeping, because locals do not find it attractive.

He said there have been reports some hotels could not make up the rooms quickly enough for guests checking in.

That, he added, had generated “all kinds of complaints” and had put hotels in “a dilemma”.

Housekeeping in the hospitality industry is considered a dangerous, dirty or difficult (3D) job which is unlikely to attract locals. The other 3D job high in the list of the hotel industry is stewarding.

Paw said the industry is now looking at foreign workers, “lots of them”, to fill positions unappealing to locals.

He said the new recruitment conditions would also greatly assist tourism linked sectors like the local product stores, souvenir shops and the food and beverage (F&B) industry.

“They can now hire migrant workers and that should help solve their manpower problems.”

Paw said the relaxation also came at the most opportune time when Malaysia is preparing to welcome Chinese tourists.

China lifted travel restrictions and reopened its border for international travel last month.

“The Chinese tourists will soon come in and in large numbers. The relaxation is therefore timely.”

Open to abuse

SME Association of Malaysia president Ding Hong Sing said though he lauded the government for extending the recruitment, he fears some companies would abuse the policy by recruiting hundreds of migrant workers to do cleaning work.

“I fear some companies will abuse this opportunity, which could force the government to end the programme.”

He said if that happened, it would “drag the SMEs down” as because recruiting would become more difficult.

“I hope the government will pay attention to this potential problem.”

Lim Ser Kwee, president of the Malaysian Federation of Vegetable Farmers Association, said since the government made it easier to hire foreign workers, farm owners have said more than 50% of the industry’s manpower needs have been met.

“However, we are still suggesting the Human Resources Ministry considers making recruitment available online.”

He said it would be a more convenient way to apply, because it would eliminate the need to make several trips to the ministry or government departments if the applications were missing the required documents.

“If it is online, the documents required would be stated and all the employers need to do is go through the check list.”

The government relaxed recruitment rules to address the shortage of migrant labour nationwide.

The move – which began on January 17 – currently covers the manufacturing, construction, plantations, agriculture and services (restaurants only) sectors and subsectors.

Under the move, employers can hire migrant workers from 15 countries without adhering to employment and quota conditions.

These conditions will end on March 31. – February 25, 2023.