KUCHING: Employers should shoulder the burden of arranging training programmes for ex-convicts before employing them, said Sarawak Patriot’s Association (SPA) chairman Datuk John Lau Pang Heng.
This is to ensure these ex-felons do not cause any harm.
“It involves money and staff to conduct such programmes, and there still exists a stigma of hiring them,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
He was commenting on Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners (MAHO) executive director Shaharuddin M. Saaid’s recent suggestion that hoteliers should consider hiring those formerly incarcerated to address worker shortage.
Lau said it time for managements to make sure that these candidates are eligible to work.
“They also should take time to check their records and they also have to get into contact with parole officers before hiring them.
“Government needs to give tax benefits to companies who engage ex-convicts,” he said.
However, Lau said there are concerns from the community on several factors namely:
- When a convict serves time in jail, do we have a rehabilitation programme to help them turn over a new leaf?
- If there is a rehabilitation programme for them, it will enable them to get back to the workforce upon their release.
- If there is no rehabilitation programme for the inmates, these ex-convicts may repeat the same mistake and commit crime again.
Similarly, Lau said there are also pros and cons of employing ex-convicts.
The advantages of employing ex-convicts:
- They will be excited to work upon release from prison so that they can start a new life. After rehabilitation, they want to contribute to society and reform.
- Inculcate ethics of work and deliver their best results. They follow the work ethics better than other employees since they fear their past. They will work sincerely to be successful in their career, and they do not get involved in office politics.
- Many ex-convicts would like to get rid of their past habits. Studies show that they will work diligently and with loyalty. They like to utilise their skills for a good cause that will be helpful for the company to develop, may lay the foundation for a good future. Upon checking the candidate’s profile, the employers can pick the best and hire them.
- Their experience with life threatening situations will motivate them to find an opportunity and be successful in it.
On the disadvantages of employing ex-convicts, Lau said even ex-convicts who have undergone rehabilitation programmes when they were in prison, might retain their habits, particularly when they were involved in stealing, scamming and assault crimes.
“Employees with a clean record may feel threatened by their presence in the workplace.
“Due to the prison environment, the convicts may be degraded in their behaviour. They continue the same behaviour in their new workplace by not being punctual, and will be indiscipline at work. It will affect productivity and cause damage to the company,” he said.
Lau said engaging ex-convicts in the workplace may give rise to segregation among the workforce, leading to difference of opinions which may affect unity and teamwork.
“If they keep fighting over the segregated issues, conflicts may arise.
“Ex-convicts include those who committed fraud and forgery and there is a huge risk of hiring them. One cannot trust them.
“If they were given a responsibility that is involved with a huge sum of money, they will try to repeat the same mistake,” he said.
Ex-convicts have bitter experiences like prison life and lawsuits, he said.
“It may disturb their mental behaviour. They may be weak in making decisions and may be sluggish in work.”
“One has to think carefully before employing ex-convicts in the service industry, particularly in hotels. There is no guarantee that ex-convicts will not repeat their previous mistakes,” Lau said.
