BARBERS, goldsmiths and textile store owners have urged Putrajaya to raise the employment age of foreign workers to 55 to overcome a labour shortage.

While they are pleased with the easing of restrictions on foreign workers, the business owners said it will only solve half of their problem.

Malaysian Indian Goldsmith and Jewellers Association president Abdul Rasul Abdul Razak described Putrajaya’s decision as “50%” satisfactory.

“It is a good restart following the hiring hiatus in 2009 but the numbers of workers approved for each sector, especially for goldsmiths, might not be sufficient, given that most of the workers have bee here for some time and are now close to retirement age.

“In 2009, the allocation for foreign workers for these sectors was around 30,000. After that the hiring of new foreign workers was frozen. Since then we have only been renewing the permits of those who are already here,” he said.

“Assuming we (goldsmith) get 5,000 workers and 2,000 of them retire. That leaves us with 3,000 workers. But eventually they have to go home.”

Putrajaya last week agreed to a quota of 7,500 foreign workers for three sub-sectors of traditional Indian businesses – barbershops, goldsmiths and textile stores.

Human Resource Minister V. Sivakumar said the quota is just a start.

Rasul asked for the age limit of foreign workers to be increased from 45 to 55 for certain sub-sectors, such as goldsmiths.

“The government’s decision to allow new workers is welcome because they are the last few skilled goldsmiths around and they are in the last stages (of employment).

“Professional and skilled goldsmiths are usually above the age of 35. They are trained and experienced but we cannot keep them beyond 45 because the law says so and that is a waste,” he said.

“The government should consider increasing the age limit for certain sub-sectors to 55. That will be a relief because we can then retain the skilled goldsmiths while taking in new ones and training them.”

Locals leave for better pay
 
Rasul said the goldsmith business needs skilled workers but he is unable to hire local ones.

He said most locals learn the trade here and leave to neighbouring Singapore for better pay.

“There are very few skilled local goldsmiths. Some of my family, who have done this for generations, would work for us, learn the skills and then open their own business,” he said.

“Either they become bosses or they go to Singapore because of the currency.”

Rasul said skilled goldsmiths get paid between RM3,000 and RM4,000 but they earn more in Singapore because of the stronger dollar.

He pointed out that the industry had expanded tremendously over the past decade but growth had been hampered by a lack of manpower.

“The demand for gold is there but we are unable to meet it.”

Barbers

Malaysian Indian Hairdresser Owner Association (Mindas) president T. Suthandiram is cautiously optimistic about the government decision.

“Anything can happen anytime. Let us wait until the plan materialises.

“There is nothing to celebrate for now as the details have not been revealed, such as how many workers are allocated for barbershops.

“The nitty-gritty of this is important,” he said.

Suthanthiram hoped for less bureaucracy in the hiring process.

Mindas has almost 800 members. – September 12, 2023.