By DESIREE TRESA GASPER
JOHOR BARU: Businessmen in various industries are pressing the Government to relax regulations on the hiring of foreign workers as orders start to come in again and more jobs are being offered – but locals just do not seem to be interested in filling up the vacancies.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the Government had made it difficult for local industries to hire foreign workers to ensure locals had a fair chance at employment, but now, a different set of problems has emerged.
He added the issue of workers was a major concern during a recent dialogue session with industry players.
“Many said that the economy was improving and that orders were on the rise for various sectors.
“They voiced their concern that although more jobs are being offered, the take-up level was still low,” he said.
Another dialogue with the employers is scheduled for next month to find a solution to the problems.
“We have to change the mindset of the local workers and ensure that they grab the opportunities available to them,” said Dr Subramaniam.
Many local workers were not keen to take up jobs available in various sectors, he added.
“Employers especially those in the plantation, construction and services sectors such as restaurants prefer hiring foreigners,” he said.
Asked if he meant many young Malaysians were becoming choosy or even lazy, he said that youngsters these days might have a different thinking especially with many of them still being supported by their parents.
“They just come and work and leave within days, unlike foreign workers,” he said at a career carnival here yesterday.
Dr Subramaniam said this problem needed to be addressed to prevent it from affecting the national economy. - The Star
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