Existing migrant workers can help plug labour gaps, says Tenaganita

Malaysia should explore regularising the status of migrant workers already residing in the country, according to labour rights group Tenaganita. The group's executive director, Glorene Das, argues that this approach would be quicker, more economical and less risky than continuing to recruit workers from abroad. Das emphasises the importance of screening employers more rigorously, promoting transparency and ensuring accountability in the recruitment process to guarantee that workers are only placed in genuine positions of need.

She further urges the government to tackle the underlying issues driving job vacancies, such as low pay, poor working conditions and inadequate labour protections. Tenaganita has encountered Malaysians capable of filling these roles, provided they are offered fair wages, secure environments, reasonable hours and decent employment opportunities.

Das highlights that labour shortages should be viewed not merely as a scarcity of workers, but also as a deficiency in the quality of jobs offered. She advocates for improving the overall quality of work as an integral part of any comprehensive strategy to address labour shortages, while simultaneously safeguarding the well-being of both Malaysian and migrant workers.

Das also warns against replicating a 2023 recruitment exercise that left numerous migrant workers stranded without any form of remuneration or assistance, thereby exposing them to exploitation and significant hardship. She urges authorities to implement stringent measures against exorbitant recruitment fees, as many migrants have paid between RM10,000 and RM15,000 for employment opportunities, leaving them susceptible to debt and exploitation.

Das concludes by stressing that the true measure of Malaysia's advancement lies in the way it treats the individuals who contribute to the nation's prosperity.