PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim today approved applications for the recruitment of foreign workers in the areas of barbershops, textiles and goldsmiths. 

In doing this, however, Anwar placed a condition that local youth be trained to fill up vacancies in the three sectors. 

“We have given approval, but partially. I am not opening everything up because there have to be efforts made (to provide training) through Technical and Vocational Education and Training, through Tekun (National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund). Training must be provided for the youth,” he said. 

He said this when officiating at the Lestari Niaga@Kuala Lumpur D’Medan Selera Madani programme at Kompleks Tun Sambanthan.

Also in attendance were Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar and Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Saraswathy Kandasami.

The prime minister said the matter will be brought to the cabinet on Friday as it involves an immediate need for workers.

Anwar also announced an additional RM10 million allocation to upgrade stalls throughout Kuala Lumpur. 

Sivakumar, when met by reporters, said about 15,000 foreign workers are needed for the barbershop, goldsmith and textile sectors. 

“The three (sectors) have been facing problems for the past few years since recruitment was frozen. 

“A lot of effort was made to get locals to work in these sectors but there were constraints and employers found it difficult to employ them, so there was high demand for workers in these three sectors for years,” he said. – Bernama, September 4, 2023.