The projected two million new jobs to be created with the implementation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) should be reserved exclusively for Malaysians, says the Federation of Trade Unions of Employees in Banking and Financial Institutions (FEBFI).

Its secretary-general, J Solomon, said the union hoped the jobs would not be "hijacked" by foreigners.

The fear of hijacking was real, Solomon said because "over the years we have seen how foreign workers were brought into the country through agents which had created problems not only for the government but also employers and local workers".

One reason for this debacle was because the recruitment of foreign workers in the country at present was not solely with the Human Resources Ministry but with the Home Ministry.

He hoped the government would revert all issues pertaining to workers to the Human Resources Ministry when the TPPA is implemented beginning 2018.

Solomon praised the International Trade and Industry Ministry and the Human Resources Ministry for having constant dialogues with stakeholders to explain the issues pertaining to the implementation of the TPPA.

He advised workers to understand the benefits of the TPPA and work closely with the government to make it a success for the benefit of all Malaysians.

- Bernama