KUALA LUMPUR: Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong has asked for evidence from officials to address the claim of 500,000 foreign workers left unemployed in the country.
Sim said that the ministry is continuously open to receiving reports, provided they contribute to addressing concerns regarding the exploitation of foreign workers.
"If they make such an allegation, then they will have to provide us with evidence," he said after a meeting with the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) today.
Sim was answering to the recent report by Berita Harian where non-governmental organisations (NGOs) claimed that more than 500,000 foreign workers might be abandoned and left jobless nationwide.
He said that allegations must be substantiated before officials can intervene.
Citing the recent incident in Pengerang, where 171 Bangladeshi workers filed a police report after being left unemployed, Sim said that coordinated efforts with the Home Ministry were soon initiated.
"For example, what happened in Pengerang, actions were taken quickly. We issued a joint statement with the Home Minister (Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution) regarding seven stringent measures.
"I do not think such strictness has ever been taken against the parties involved. In any case, if there is evidence and facts, I request that the parties concerned make an official report so that we can take action," he said.
Dr Sukumaran Nair, Secretary General of the National Organisation of Malaysian Private Employment Agencies (Papsma), told Berita Harian the projected figure of 500,000 was derived from the expectation of Malaysia hiring approximately two million foreign workers after the 2022 Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the actual demand at that time was only about 1.2 million workers.
Berita Harian disclosed that over 100 companies, suspected to be masterminded by Bangladeshis, were discovered operating under the guise of Malaysian shareholders.
These companies were allegedly responsible for the influx of over 500,000 foreign workers without job opportunities, as they were recruiting despite the absence of demand from employers.
Berita Harian also reported that the increase in unemployed foreign workers has contributed to a surge in the country's foreign labour force, reaching an estimated 2.7 million, resulting in public dissatisfaction and posing various socioeconomic challenges.
