KUALA LUMPUR – The recruitment of migrant workers should be managed by the Human Resources Ministry, said Deputy Law and Institutional Reform Minister M. Kulasegaran.
Pointing to a comprehensive study conducted during his tenure as human resources minister, Kulasegaran, who is also Ipoh Barat MP, said Malaysia was the only country out of 64 studied nations to have two ministries involved in the crucial task of managing migrant workers.
The task of handling the recruitment and management of migrant workers is currently split between the Human Resources Ministry and the Home Ministry.
“The independent committee on foreign workers produced a report explicitly stating that the Human Resources Ministry should be the sole authority responsible for handling foreign workers,” Kulasegaran said in a statement today.
“(The current) dual responsibility is not only inefficient, but also counterproductive… it is evident that the wheel does not need to be reinvented; we have a well-documented solution at our disposal.
“The singular authority of the Human Resources Ministry in this matter aligns with international best practices and will undoubtedly result in a more efficient, transparent and cohesive system.”
He added that the current situation where two ministries share responsibility for managing migrant workers is “not in the best interest of our nation” as overlapping functions allow corruption to take root.
As such, the deputy minister urged for the immediate establishment of a task force dedicated to implementing the recommendations in the said report, suggesting that the task force comprise experts, stakeholders and representatives from relevant sectors.
Kulasegaran’s comments follow Human Resources Minister Steven Sim’s announcement that he would meet Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to discuss issues related to migrant workers’ management, including the possibility of placing the matter under one ministry.
Later, Sim also said his ministry would be calling up the employer and agency involved with the recruitment of 171 migrant workers from Bangladesh who failed to obtain jobs three months after entering Malaysia.
This came after police arrested hundreds of migrant workers who claimed to have been cheated by their job agent and were spotted walking in droves around Kota Tinggi, Johor, on December 20.
Meanwhile, in a statement today, Malaysian Trades Union Congress secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the network of the migrant workers recruitment system.
“The government must investigate and identify foreign workers who came to Malaysia after being promised job opportunities but failed to secure employment. This is a matter of bullying and trafficking of foreign workers.
“It’s possible that Malaysia will return to Tier 3 (of the United States’ Trafficking in Persons report) next year if this issue is not managed properly.”
The 2023 edition of the report upgraded Malaysia to Tier 2, with US authorities noting that while Malaysia is making significant efforts, it has not met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
Stressing that migrant workers’ nightmares will only continue if no stern action is taken against employers who go against workers’ rights, Kamarul warned of potential implications on labour laws when conditions to bring in migrant workers are simplified.
“Companies will take the opportunity to profit from the supply of foreign labour, which is considered a gold mine. This industry is surrounded by various negative perceptions, including corruption, bribery, abuse of power, gangsters and cartels.” – December 27, 2023