The construction industry today denied allegations that employers' preference for 'cheap' foreign labour had contributed to its woes in face of the government's anti-illegal immigrants policy.
Last week, the Union of Employees of Construction Industry (UECI) said employers had become reliant on foreign workers over locals because they did not want to pay benefits which could increase labour costs by RM200 to RM300 per employee.
However, the vice-president of the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM), Patrick Wong, said the allegation that foreign workers were cheaper was untrue.
"Indonesian workers are paid as much as RM40 or RM50 a day. Let me know where you can find local workers earning up to RM1,500 a month," he said, adding that the high daily wages paid out to foreign workers should be sufficient to cover the value of benefits.
Asked to comment on the UECI's claim that employers had often overlooked potential employees among locals from states such as Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, Wong said contractors did not know of such people.
"We would not hire foreigners if there are locals who are willing to work," he stressed when contacted.
Unrealistic expectation
Wong also said it is unrealistic for UECI to expect employers to go looking for their workers in east coast states since workers should also take the initiative to seek employment.
"It is not right if we have to go to locals to ask them if they want to work," he added.
Prior to the government's crackdown on illegal immigrants, the construction sector was estimated to have employed at least 350,000 illegal workers, comprising 70 percent of the total foreign workforce in the industry.
Meanwhile, Wong also said he was not previously aware of the existence of the union and therefore, doubted its authority to speak on behalf of local construction workers.
However, UECI executive secretary S Santhanasamy said the 2,000-strong union had been in existence for over ten years.
"We have sent bulletins to the MBAM and they have also sent bulletins to us. They must know about the union," he said when contacted.
Santhanasamy reiterated that UECI's aim is for employers to hire only local workers and legal foreign workers so that their interests can be represented by the union.
.
