SHAH ALAM – The Workers Retrenchment Action Committee in Selangor will suggest that the Federal Government reduce the entry of foreign workers into Malaysia , particularly in Selangor.

Selangor Dato’ Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim who chairs the committee is of the opinion that the intake of foreign workers especially in the electronics, manufacturing and services sector should be reduced as there were less demands in those areas.

“We are not asking for foreign workers to be banned as there are certain sectors such as building where they are still needed. But reductions should be made in sectors with low demand because when they are retrenched, the Government will have to look after their welfare which involves costs,” said Tan Sri Abdul Khalid.

This action will not only reduce the costs in maintaining foreign workers whose contracts have expired or have been retrenched, it will also open more job opportunities for locals.

In the meantime, the Committee has also instructed the State Government’s subsidiary, Selangor State Investment Centre (SSIC) to contact all private companies which will be retrenching workers to hold a mini carnival for vacancies in various fields to assist these workers in getting suitable jobs when they are later retrenched.

This committee also heard several briefings by the Workforce Department (JTK) which among other things touched on the setting up of an operation room to monitor retrenchment and placement which would inform signs of retrenchment as well as ensure placement of workers who have been laid off. This committee also stresses the importance of cooperating and sharing information between Government agencies at state and federal level, which include the Workforce Department of Selangor, The Ministry of Human Resources and the State Government. This cooperation will make it easier to give the necessary assistance to those who need it.

The committee will meet once again next week to summarise the discussion results to help workers who have been laid off. All detailed data on retrenched workers will be used to ensure that they receive the necessary help in order to achieve this committee’s purpose.

PRESS SECRETARIAT
OFFICE OF THE DATO’ MENTERI BESAR OF SELANGOR