Gov't mulls raising expat salary threshold to RM5k to protect locals
The government is mulling measures to make semi-skilled jobs with salaries up to RM5,000 exclusive to locals.
Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran said this would be done by raising the minimum salary for jobs that expatriates can apply for to RM5,000...
The government is mulling measures to make semi-skilled jobs with salaries up to RM5,000 exclusive to locals.
Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran said this would be done by raising the minimum salary for jobs that expatriates can apply for to RM5,000.
The current salary threshold for such jobs is RM3,000.
"This is a salary group that Malaysians can easily fill up. Why should we have foreigners doing the work?" Kulasegaran told reporters after a press conference with TalentCorp today.
He said this measure would reduce competition between locals and expatriates.
He said a committee consisting of industry experts and NGOs would be formed soon to study the new measures.
Meanwhile, TalentCorp CEO N Sivakumeren said that out of the 71,000 foreigners approved to work in Malaysia last year, only 2,173 were for semi-skilled jobs earning between RM3,000 and RM5,000.
This he said, was a decrease from two years ago, prompted by tighter regulations by the Home Ministry.
This law is only good if it can be enforced effectivey only. There are expats (medical practitioners) from India who sign the RM5,000 contract because of the regulation but settle for a lower figure with the employers. Enforcement can be effective if they are paid through cheques or credited to their Malaysian Bank Accounts and cash payment should not be allowed. Hope the Minister can tighten the loopholes. Coming out with the rule itself is grossly insufficient.
kula, you are setting policies without the experience of running a business. you think we are only servicing Malaysians? think again. we are facing the world !!! our customers can be be from any corner of the world. who do they buy from? any corner of the world !!! have you ever face overseas customers demanding deliveries on short notices ??? and here you are trying your level best to make us uncompetitive !!!
Kula speaks too fast without thinking. Please consult the stakeholders before making or releasing any statement. Weakest minister in PH caninet.