The Malaysian government is planning to send back 200,000 foreign workers this year and in light of the economic crisis, it will apply stricter standards in the hiring of foreign workers to reduce their number to 1.8 million next year and to 1.5 million by 2015.

From this, it is a reasonable deduction that the government is planning to increase job opportunities for Malaysians and is expecting local and multi-national companies in the country to hire locals on a reasonable salary based on supply and demand.

However, this is not the reality on the ground. Let me explain the actual situation.

Most companies in the private sector do not want to hire permanent staff as workers. They need the manpower but they hire workers, usually locals, through a labour supply contractor.

This usually translates into a raw deal for the workers who won’t get salary increments, medical benefits, annual leave, bonuses, Socso and EPF contributions and other benefits that permanent employees usually enjoy.

This means those from the younger generation who have not done well academically will have a tough time. In the long term, their future as workers will be extremely bleak. Why are these Malaysians being treated worse than foreign workers in their own country? It seems their plight is being ignored.

Contract workers also live an uncertain life as they can be terminated from their jobs at any time, regardless of the years of service they have put into a company. If they are given the boot, what will happen to their families? Does anyone even care?

As long as the employer and labour supply company are in agreement, both will not lose any thing and will never be held accountable for any unfair termination of employees. When there is no regulation and enforcement, everyone will take matters very lightly.

What are the consequences? When we have high rates of employment, social problems will also crop up - robberies, rape, prostitution, etc. All to make a living in hard times.

It seems like the problem of local workers being sidelined is being ignored. Why are our jobs being given to foreigners? Could it be because of the high commissions involved in procuring these workers?

Multinationals seem to prefer paying RM1,000 a month to a foreign worker but only pay locals between RM600 and RM700. Why is this?

Some companies even offer local workers a Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) only to replace them with foreign workers. Is this fair to Malaysian workers?

I sincerely hope the federal government, the human resources ministry, state governments and workers’ unions all sit up and take notice of this problem.

A system is needed through which local workers’ rights will be adequately protected. This is especially vital now, in the current state of economic uncertainty. It is time the voice of the Malaysian worker is heard.