KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking to reduce dependency on foreign workers in three sub-sectors, said Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar.
The three sub-sectors are textile, hair care and goldsmith.
He said industry players have been told that the government has given a one-off approval for the employment of foreign workers in these three sectors.
"(However) All entrepreneurs need to find steps not to depend on foreign workers.
"The government, through the ministry, has provided a skills training programme along with the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) certification for local entrepreneurs and workers in the hair care sub-sector.
"For the textile and goldsmith sub-sectors, whose business patterns are specific to Indian and religious-related, although there's no specific training, employers are advised to offer attractive salary packages and optimise the use of existing foreign workforce to train locals," he said in the winding up speech of the ministry's 2024 Supply Bill (2024 Budget) committee level debate today.
He said the ministry received a total of 329 applications for initial approval to employ foreign workers under Section 60K of the Employment Act 1955 for the three service sub-sectors.
Out of that number, he said a total of 286 applications were completed with 121 of them approved and 165 rejected.
The highest rejection was due to an offenses under Act 446 which involved a total of 107 applications.
The remaining 43 applications are still being processed by Labour Department.
"Employers who have received approval must attend an interview session at the ministry's One Stop Centre for the further quota approval process," he said.