Kuala Lumpur, January 6, 2024 – The Malaysian Industrial Commercial and Service Employers Association (MICSEA) supports the decision of Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong to take strict action against employers who deceive foreign workers into securing non-existent jobs in Pengerang, Johor. The joint statement issued by both ministers states that such employers will be blacklisted and barred from conducting any business activities, including renewing temporary employment visit passes for their current workers. They will also be blacklisted from applying for new foreign worker employment, and the remaining quota for hiring foreign workers and conditional approval letters issued to these employers for levy payments will be cancelled.
MICSEA views this as a necessary step to ensure that employers fulfill their responsibilities towards foreign workers. The Home Ministry (KDN) and the Ministry of Human Resources (KSM) take this matter seriously and will not compromise with any party involved in cases of exploiting foreign workers leading to forced labour and human trafficking. This action is in line with Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/1963, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007, the Employment Act 1955, and the Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation, and Amenities for Employees Act 1990.
MICSEA supports the inspections and audits that will be conducted on any employer who has brought in workers through the Foreign Workers Employment Flexibility Plan. These actions are necessary to address issues related to foreign worker employment without compromising the sovereignty of the country’s laws. We appreciate the ministers’ efforts to find solutions to cases of neglect and exploitation of foreign workers and to formulate improvements in the management of foreign workers to ensure that the issues are addressed thoroughly and holistically.
We look forward to the special meeting between the Home Minister and the Minister of Human Resources on Jan 16 to discuss issues related to foreign workers before proposing to the Cabinet meeting regarding the status of freezing foreign worker employment quota applications and steps to improve the governance of foreign worker employment in the country.
YK Lai, MHRM | TTT
President, Malaysian Industrial Commercial & Service Employers Association
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