The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) today called on the government to immediately impose a freeze on the recruitment  of foreign workers in order to sort out the issue of 1.3 million foreigners who are now employed in unapproved sectors.

Its vice-president, A Balasubramaniam, said the government should look into the issue seriously it had a huge impact on the locals.

“Our fear is that since cheap foreign labour is in abundance, the locals would be sidelined as employers would prefer the foreigners,” he said.

He added that the Human Resources Ministry should take the lead in convening a meeting to seek assistance and ideas from the stakeholders to find ways and means to overcome the problem.

Balasubranamiam was commenting on the announcement by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday that the recent registration exercise codenamed 6P programme to register, legalise, deport, supervise and provide amnesty and proper enforcement for foreign workers had revealed that there were 1.3 million workers being employed in unapproved sectors.

The unapproved sectors are car workshops, fast food outlets, restaurants and food stalls.

Balasubramaniam said the government should also step up enforcement to weed out illegal workers.

- Bernama