The government is contradicting its own policy in trying to reduce dependence on foreign labour when it decided to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshis into the workforce, says human rights NGO Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit).

"Several weeks ago, the government announced that it will double the levy on migrant workers as a means to discourage our reliance on foreign labour, though it has been put on hold.

"Doesn't this contradict with the decision to bring in 1.5 million more foreign labour?" asked Jerit.

It said the addition of another 1.5 million foreign workers to the five million or so documented and undocumented foreign labour in Malaysia will only increase, and not reduce, the nation's dependence on cheap migrant workforce.

Jerit pointed out that at the time of economic uncertainties, many local workers are already being laid off causing a glut in the labour market, which would make things worse for the workers.

It noted that the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) had stated two days ago that 26,000 workers were retrenched last year, with many more job cuts expected this year.

"What is the rationale of bringing in migrant workers at this time"?

Jerit questioned the government's reasoning that local workers do not want to work in the dangerous, dirty and difficult (3D) jobs that foreigners are often brought in to handle.

It said that generations of local workers had been performing those 3D jobs before employers turned to cheap foreign labour in answer to government policies on the matter.

The NGO also lamented that the deal to hire foreign labout has been met with xenophobia and racially-tinged accusations that linked foreign workers to crime, and painting them as "enemies" of local workers.

Jerit said that instead of being regarded as enemies, foreign workers should be seen as victims of exploitation, fraud, and human trafficking.

The group also urges the government to legalise illegal migrant labour already in place.