Agents must be stopped from making business of migrant hiring, says Jo Ghani

KUALA LUMPUR – Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said recruitment agencies must be stopped from exploiting migrant workers and turning it into a “business”.

He said this after noting the prevalence of such agencies bringing migrant workers into Malaysia before providing them with jobs.

In a statement posted on X, the Titiwangsa MP also said the proposed RM30,000 fine for companies and agents bringing in migrant workers without providing them with jobs within a month was in line with the severity of the offence.

He said the fine would also cover the cost of the migrant workers’ repatriation to their home countries.

“The proposed fines are appropriate to the offence and to cover the cost of sending back migrant workers to their home countries. This was previously borne by the government,” he added.

Johari said the proposal for the fine was following the incident on December 25, where 171 Bangladeshi workers in Kota Tinggi, Johor, were detained after walking en masse to the Bayu Damai police station as the employment companies or agents refused to offer them jobs.

“If employment agents bring in migrant workers to Malaysia but wait to see which companies will employ these workers, this implies that they have turned this into a business.

“This cannot be allowed. This shows that employment companies are attempting to exploit the sector like a business.

“If this continues, it will tarnish Malaysia’s image as migrant workers come into Malaysia hoping to get jobs instead of being faced with unemployment,” he said.

In contrast, Johari said there were crucial industries in the country suffering from a lack of workers, especially those classed as “difficult, dangerous or dirty,” or 3D.

“For example, the rubber plantation sector alone needs about 70,000 to 80,000 workers to tend to the needs of 420,000ha of smallholders’ rubber fields.

“This doesn’t include employment requirements in sectors like palm oil, cocoa and pepper plantations,” he added.

Yesterday, Johari said his ministry had proposed imposing a compound of up to RM30,000 per worker against companies that fail to provide jobs for migrants they recruit.

He added that the proposed fines supported by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were also being shared with other ministries, namely the human resources and home ministries. – January 5, 2024