If we don’t allow foreign workers to come in, then the cost of operations will go up and Malaysia will not be an attractive location for manufacturers.
— Carmelo Ferlito, senior fellow at the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas)
RAIN or shine, a job always needs to get done.
This is not a problem in most cases because organisations can find the right person for the job through recruitment.
However, there are times, situations, and circumstances when it can be challenging to find enough workers.
One of the areas where we now face this problem is in the context of jobs that are referred to as “3D” jobs, meaning those that are seen as dirty, dangerous and difficult.
These jobs are often seen as undesirable because they are physically demanding, require long hours and may involve exposure to hazardous materials or situations.
As Sarawakians become better educated and skilled, it is increasingly becoming more challenging for employers to recruit people for 3D jobs.
It is also difficult to recruit locals for jobs with a social stigma attached, such as rubbish collectors and maids.
In Sarawak, many “undesirable” jobs are filled by foreign workers, some with work permits and others without.
The unwillingness of many Sarawakians to do “3D” jobs has created a significant gap between the supply and demand for labour. Even higher wages have sometimes not been enough to attract local workers to these positions.
I am not in any way advocating the replacement of Sarawakians with foreign workers blindly. We should at all times promote the employment of Sarawakians.
Only when there is a ‘gap’ that remains unfulfilled by the locals should we facilitate the employment of foreign workers.
The GPS Sarawak government, led by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, has implemented plans to uplift Sarawak’s economy with his Post-COVID Development Strategy 2030.
“In terms of our economic prosperity, Sarawak needs to double the size of the economy from RM136 billion in 2019 to RM282 billion in 2030. To achieve this target, Sarawak’s economy needs to grow on average 6.0 percent to 8.0 percent per annum until 2030,” he said.
Sarawak’s economy’s rapid growth and expansion will require many skilled and general workers. Implementing skilled workforce education and training is well underway and has, in fact, borne fruits already.
However, there is an anticipated slowdown in the growth of the working-age population. This is compounded by an increase in Sarawakians leaving the workforce due to retirement and old age.
This means there will be a labour shortage in Sarawak in the coming years. Therefore an increased demand for semi-skilled or general workers, especially in the 3D sector, will not be met.
With Sarawak only able to provide a limited number of manpower from its local labour market towards its 2030 ambitions, there will be an increased need to rely on more foreign workers.
These shortages in various sectors, such as construction and manufacturing, strain the growth, making it difficult for businesses to operate and might challenge the state’s economy.
A point to note is that many countries in our surrounding region, such as Indonesia, have experienced a rapid economic growth. This has led to a decline in the number of workers seeking employment in Sarawak.
An example is the number of Indonesian maids willing to work in Sarawak has declined in recent years as they have found good-paying jobs in their own country.
This has made it more difficult for Sarawakian families to find maids and has also increased the cost of hiring a maid.
Enabling families to employ maids easily would allow married working couples to achieve a higher household income status and provide better care for the elderly.
With underdeveloped facilities and a lack of homes for the aged, foreign maids can play an essential role in caring for the elderly in Sarawak.
There are, of course, several ways these issues are being mitigated. One such approach has been the Labour Recalibration Programme (Rekalibrasi Tenaga Kerja-RTK) programme.
The RTK is a vital government initiative to regularise undocumented workers in Malaysia, providing a legal and orderly way for foreign workers to work here. Recently, there has been another round of this in Sarawak.
To overcome some of the issues, the authorities could simplify and speed up the application process for those still willing to come to Sarawak and work.
Ideally, we require the relevant government agencies with clear and effective mechanisms to expedite and facilitate the processing of work permits for foreign workers.
While the need for foreign labour is clear, there are also concerns about the impact of foreign workers on Sarawak’s economy and society. These concerns are legitimate and need to be addressed.
It is important to remember that foreign workers also play an essential role in Sarawak’s economy. They help to fill labour shortages and boost economic growth.
Together with Sarawakians working hand in hand and the right amount of documented foreign labour, this will speed up our journey towards a developed nation status.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
