Human resources ministry to present report to MPN on entry of foreign workers

Human Resources Minister M Saravanan today said his ministry would present a full report soon on the entry of foreign workers to the National Recovery Council (MPN), to resolve allegations of delays in their entry into the country.

He said the ministry was updating the report based on the work it had carried out.

"Our representative in the MPN may not have informed (Muhyiddin Yassin) of the developments (on the entry of foreign workers). 

"We will present it to him soon," he said at a media conference in Bangi.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin, the MPN chairman, urged the government to expedite the intake of foreign workers to overcome the shortage of workers, especially in the micro, small and medium enterprises sectors.

He also said the government’s delay in addressing the issue would affect productivity and slow down the country’s recovery process.

Saravanan said the government had approved the intake quota for foreign workers based on the demands of the various sectors in the country, and that it was up to the employers to speed up the process on their end.

"The entry of foreign workers must undergo various processes after getting the government’s approval. The human resources ministry has completed nearly all of its responsibilities to bring in foreign workers. Now we just have to identify the source of this delay," he said.

He also said his ministry had signed a memorandum of understanding with several source countries, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Cambodia and India.

Meanwhile, he questioned the request by Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham to switch the location of the ministry's special briefing, scheduled to be held on Oct 5, to answer allegations relating to the Saravanan’s failure to address the issues in foreign worker entry and the shortage of workers.

"I invite them to come and see for themselves what I have done to resolve this problem. It involves the ministry, so come to the ministry. 

"I will show all the evidence that we have here," he said, adding that the briefing would also be open to media personnel.

The media today reported Ngeh as saying that he was ready to attend the special briefing, but wanted it moved to Parliament and opened to media personnel.