KUALA LUMPUR (April 15): Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan has expressed shock over the Bangladesh High Commission’s move to start an employment portal without notifying the Ministry.
“It is unreasonable on the part of the High Commission to take such action which goes against the roles and responsibilities of a foreign diplomatic mission,” he said in a statement today.
“On the aspect of employment services, the government through the Human Resources Ministry has developed a national employment portal, MyFutureJobs, which advertises domestic job vacancies involving the recruitment of foreign workers as well as expatriates,” he added.
Saravanan said he views the matter seriously as it can mislead and create confusion among the public, particularly local employers.
It was reported that the ‘Chakrir Khor’ portal was launched on April 8 to enable Malaysian employers to recruit Bangladeshi workers, as well as to assist undocumented Bangladeshi workers to participate in the government’s Recalibration Programme that was announced last year.
Saravanan, however, said the Recalibration Programme for the manufacturing, construction, plantation, and agriculture sectors — a joint effort by the Human Resources Ministry and the Home Affairs Ministry — is being executed from from Nov 16, 2020 till June 30, 2021 by government entities and employers, without the involvement of vendors or third parties.
Under the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981, the recruitment of foreign workers in Malaysia is to be managed by private employment agencies licensed by the Department of Labour, he added.
He said the employment portal may result in an influx of illegal Bangladeshi workers to the country which could lead to exploitation due to the uncertainty of their immigration status.
Saravanan said as much as he acknowledges the economy’s dependence on foreign workers, especially in sectors that are deemed unattractive to local workers, his Ministry has always remained steadfast in ensuring that local workers are given priority to fill in the job vacancies.
“I am currently engaging with employers from sectors that are affected badly during the Covid-19 pandemic, namely construction, plantation and agriculture, to advertise their vacancies at MyFutureJobs portal to ensure that no local workers are deprived of their opportunity to secure employment,” he said.
Saravanan said he is also of the view that the ‘Chakrir Khoj’ portal will jeopardise the businesses of more than 400 private employment agencies which bring foreign workers into the country.
“These local companies have been out of business for over a year but are still paying the required licensing fees.
“As such, under these circumstances, it is inappropriate for the Bangladesh High Commission to launch the employment portal in Malaysia which is seen as undermining the government’s planning to manage the actual demand of foreign labour in the country,” the Minister added.
