PUTRAJAYA, Aug 8 – The government had to bring in foreign workers, including those from Bangladesh because of Malaysians who are not interested in working in the ‘3D’ – ‘dangerous’, ‘difficult’ and ‘dirty’, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“As the industry and business must go on, then we have to find alternatives that bring workers from foreign countries, especially from Bangladesh,” he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call from Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali here today.
Ahmad Zahid said the issue of Bangladeshi workers were among the focus of discussions with Abul Hassan in a meeting about 30 minutes. He had said about 1.5 million workers from Bangladesh will be brought into Malaysia in stages over three years to meet the demands of employers from various sectors, especially agriculture, construction, manufacturing and services last June.
“Also up for discussion is related to preventing deaths among Bangladeshis who tried to enter the country illegally, either by sea or by land other than avoid them being persecuted employer. They are denied the right to payment of wages, are not given shelter and medical facilities,” he said.
“Adding that the recruitment of foreign workers from Bangladesh made in accordance with international guidelines. The foreign workers will be brought into the country should be given basic training in advance in Bangladesh as well as having appropriate education and sector by sector jobs will be accompanied in Malaysia,” he explained.
Ahmad Zahid said those who have criminal records or diseases harmful to the population will also be taken into account as a factor that will determine whether it can be brought into the country. On one of the few means including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) against the government’s intention to hire workers from Bangladesh, Ahmad Zahid said he would meet with the group to explain the rationale for the move without crowding people.
