MIRI: The State government is giving priority to locals in securing jobs in the oil and gas industry, assured Deputy Minister in Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala.
“Rest assured that my Ministry’s role is to ensure eligible and available Sarawakians are given opportunity and priority for jobs and only if employers cannot recruit local Sarawakians, will we approve work permits to bring employees from outside.
“I welcome the Sarawak Oil and Gas Workers Association’s (Sogwa) initiative to give the Labour Management Unit (ILMU) of the Department of Labour Sarawak, the database of SOGWA members looking for jobs from time to time,” he said at the launching of SOGWA’s Career Expo 2023 here today.
He added, that the State government is also planning to create new (job) opportunities and high-paying jobs.
Recalled his meeting with Sogwa’s president Jamal Abdullah @Tedong Chakaw in Kuching last year, where the latter had expressed his concern over employers recruiting non- Sarawakians industry, Gerawat said the State government is very protective about Sarawakian jobs in the industry.
“We are very protective about Sarawakian jobs … but you (Sogwa) must play your part by providing us the database for us to monitor numbers of workers available for the market,” he said.
A total 16 oil and gas companies as well as other agencies are taking part in the inaugural two-day career expo.
At the event, Sogwa and Sealestial Marine Seaferer Training Centre Sdn Bhd also inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on mariner competency.
Gerawat also pledged a grant of RM15,000 to Sogwa.
Also present were Miri MP Chiew Choon Man , Sogwa’s president Jamal Abdullah @ Tedong Chakaw and Sealestial Marine Seaferer Training Centre Sdn Bhd director Captain Kenneth Khoo.
