Employers Must Offer Opportunities to Local Job Seekers First

The government pledged to guarantee that local job seekers including graduates continue to be incorporated into the country’s employment sector in the fields that best fit their qualifications.

Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said any job opening must be offered to local job seekers first especially considering these challenging periods of the current pandemic.

“In realising this effort, the government has agreed to require employers to advertise all job vacancies on the JobsMalaysia Portal within at least 30 days before they intend to hire foreign workers and expatriates.

"It is aimed at letting all departments or agencies under the ministry to have sufficient time to implement the job matching process and be able to prioritise local job seekers," the minister said.

Local job seekers are urged to register themselves on the MYFutureJobs portal, he continued.

The Human Resources Ministry wants employers to prioritise local job seekers.

Saravanan said for private employment agencies, including those who govern and authorise the hiring of foreign workers, as well as expatriates, are informed to ensure that employers take proper action in accordance with government laws.

He said employers were ordered to comply with the Foreign Workers First Out (FWFO) element in line with the provisions under Section 60N of the Employment Act 1955 and the Code of Conduct for Industrial Harmony.

This is to guarantee that when it comes to layoffs, foreign workers must be dismissed first to ensure the continuity of employment of local job seekers, he added.

Saravanan said companies trying to reduce the size of their business by decreasing local and foreign workers were ordered to report the issue to the Department of Labour (JTK).

What the unions and economists say

Last month, the unions and economists had one advice for the Malaysian government: Protect Malaysian workers. 

They also said that fair treatment of staff must be ensured. This is in response to an announcement by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that up to a million Malaysians could lose their jobs in the next few months as a result of the economic fallout caused by the recent pandemic.

They want the government to ensure the rights of Malaysian workers are prioritised over that of migrant workers. One economist also suggested a new "Pandemic Emergency Bill" to cover all such future events.

Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Datuk Abdul Halim Mansor stated that employers must be made accountable for prioritising jobs of local employees without discrimination.

Source: Bernama 

Arm your organisation with the best employees. How? By hiring with us. Register at AJobThing.com to schedule your free consultation.

Related articles
Can Higher Wage Attract Locals to Work in 3D Jobs?    
No More Foreign Workers' Recruitment Until End of 2020, Says HR Minister    
Here's Everything You Should Know About PenjanaKerjaya