Employers urged to hire more locals

Dated : 2008/04/16

PUTRAJAYA: Employers must play a role in reducing the country’s dependency on foreign workers.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the ministry, through the Immigration Department, had improved its system to detect illegal immigrants and the only way to prevent an influx of illegal workers was for employers to hire more locals.

Co-operation from employers is needed if wanted to reduce our dependency on foreign workers. Employers must hire more locals, while the government must have a proper plan to train youths. Youths cannot be fussy about jobs either.”

the ministry was drafting a bill on a proposal to reduce overcrowding in prisons by making convicted illegal immigrants serve part of their sentences in jails in their home countries

“This will take some time and need a (draft) law, then need to give it to the attorney-general and the cabinet. We also need to have bilateral agreements with other governments.”