Minister of Human Resources shocked and appalled with Bangladeshi's Chahrir Khoj

KUALA LUMPUR 16 April - Minister of Human Resources, Datuk Seri M. Saravanan (photo) expressed his shocked and appalled with the action of the Bangladesh High Commission that has launched its employment portal `Chahrir Khoj' without prior consultation nor notification to the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR).

"It is unreasonable on the part of the High Commission to take such action which goes against the
roles and responsibilities of a foreign diplomatic mission," he said in a statement.

He was referring to the recent news report in local media pertaining to the launching of an employment portal, “Chakrir Khoj” by the Bangladesh High Commission on 8 April 2021. 

It is reported that the employment portal is to enable Malaysian employers to recruit Bangladeshi workers, as well as to assist undocumented Bangladeshi workers to participate in the Government’s Recalibration Programme that was announced last year.

According to Saravanan, on the aspect of employment services, the Government through MOHR has
developed a national employment portal, MyFutureJobs which advertises domestic job vacancies involving the recruitment of foreign workers as well as expatriates.

"I view this matter seriously as it can mislead and create confusion to the public particularly local employers for  the following reasons:-

I. The Recalibration Programme, which is a collaboration between MOHR and the Ministry of Home Affairs which commenced on 16 November 2020 until 30 June 2021 are being executed by Government entities and employers without the involvement of vendors or third parties. The sectors offered are confined to
manufacturing, construction, plantation and agriculture.

II. Under the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981 (Act 246), the recruitment of foreign workers in Malaysia are to be managed by private employment agencies, licensed by the Department of Labour.

III. The said employment portal may cause the influx of Bangladeshi illegal workers to the country which could lead to exploitation due to the uncertainty of their immigration status that could mar Malaysia’s image.

Saravanan said, the issue of foreign workers was discussed in the Wednesday's Cabinet meeting and MOHR is mandated to prepare a comprehensive paper on the actual requirement of foreign workers in all sectors, taking into account the COVID-19 situation.

"As much as I acknowledge the industry’s dependence of foreign workers, especially in sectors that are deemed unattractive to local workers, the Ministry has always remained steadfast in ensuring that local workers are being given priority to fill in the job vacancies.

"I am currently engaging with employers from sectors that are affected badly during the COVID-19 pandemic namely construction, plantation and agriculture to advertise their vacancies at MyFutureJobs portal to ensure that no local workers are deprived of their opportunity to secure employment.

"Furthermore, I am also of the view that the “Chakrir Khoj” portal will jeopardise the business of more than 400 private employment agencies currently licensed by the Department of Labour to bring in foreign workers to the country. These local companies have been out of business for over a year but are still paying the required license fee.

"As such, under these circumstances, it is inappropriate for the Bangladesh High Commission to launch the said employment portal in Malaysia which is seen as undermining the Government’s planning to manage the actual demand of foreign labour in the country," said Saravnan. - DagangNews.com