KUALA LUMPUR: Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) has called for a thorough study before excluding expatriates from RM10,000 and below salaried jobs.
In a statement today, MBAM expressed support to Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran’s intention to have more locals take on the jobs of expatriates.
"The government's proposal to abolish Category II and Category III employment passes given to expatriate workers is good but it is not practical to implement in the current economic situation," said MBAM president Foo Chek Lee.
There are three categories of employment passes namely Category I for jobs paying RM10,000 and above, Category II for salaries between RM5,000 and RM10,000, and Category III for jobs below RM5,000.
Kulasegaran reportedly said the government was planning to phase out the second and third categories and keep Category I.
Foo said there must be a proper study before implementation because this could add extra burden and cost to the construction industry.
"The industry will still need to rely on expatriates for skills that may not be available locally in the construction industry.
"The construction industry has no choice but to pay the expatriate high salaries in order to fill the vacancy as there is still shortage of local skilled workers," he added.
The effect would be most felt when there are more large-scale projects coming into Malaysia's construction scene.
Furthermore, as businesses increasingly adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution methods, Foo said more technical skill and expertise are required to transform the construction towards a more productive industry.