KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — The Cabinet has agreed to a quota of 7,500 foreign workers for three sub-sectors, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar said.
He said the decision to allow barbershops, goldsmiths and textiles stores to hire the migrant workers was reached after considering their needs.
Sivakumar said this was pursuant to the announcement Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made earlier this month about lifting the hiring freeze for the three subsectors, but clarified that this was not a blanket move.
“As such, for a start, the Cabinet today agreed to open up a quota of 7,500 workers for all three sub-sectors,” he said in a statement.
He added that the move should reduce the exploitation of undocumented and forced labour.
Sivakumar said his ministry would work with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to streamline the recruitment process for the 7,500 migrant workers.
On Monday, Anwar said he will authorise the hiring of foreign workers for the three sub-sectors to alleviate their labour shortage, but limit this to ensure Malaysian workers would still have opportunities.
