Six trade groups submit memo on foreign workers shortage to CM
Published on: Sunday, January 09, 2022
Fong Ming San (third from right) presents the memorandum to Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam (fourth from left), while STIA President PJ Tan (second from right) looks on. (Photo: Supplied)
Kota Kinabalu: Six trade associations are appealing to the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, to help resolve the shortage of foreign workers faced by industries in Sabah.
They are Sabah Timber Industries Association (STIA), Timber Association of Sabah, Sabah Furniture Association, SME Association of Sabah, Sabah Employers Association (SEA) and The East Malaysia Planters' Association.
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Their appeal along with several recommended measures were made via a memorandum to the Chief Minister submitted by SEA Secretary-General and STIA Committee Member, Fong Ming San through Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Industrial Development Minister, Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam during their courtesy call to the Industrial Development Ministry (MID) at Wisma Kewangan, here, on Thursday.
In a press release issued by SEA, Fong said Sabah industries which are dependent on foreign labour have been hit by shortage of foreign workers in the past few years, with the situation turning dire since March 2020 after the country closed its borders as a measure to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Foreign workers with expired permits returned to their home country and were subsequently unable to return to Malaysia. At the same time, the Government froze intake of new foreign workers.
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