Time running out for foreign workers under 6P program

KUALA LUMPUR: The construction sector is going to be hard hit next month if the government does not change the status of migrant workers under the 6P program to foreign workers with the temporary visit pass which can be renewed every 12 months up to a maximum of 10 years.
The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM), Persatuan Kontraktor Melayu Malaysia (PKMM), Gabungan Kontraktor Bumiputera Wibawa Malaysia (GBC), and Persatuan Kontraktor India Malaysia (PKIM) has come together to appeal to the government to immediately look into the problem or else by early next month 503,000 workers registered under the 6P will have to return to their homeland or become illegal workers.
MBAM president Matthew Thew said these workers are now considered as skilled workers due to extensive working experience in the construction industry as a result of long-term investments by the local construction industry in terms of training and money.
"If the status of the foreign workers under the 6P program is not normalized, they will need to return to their respective countries by January 2015. This will not only lead to the already critical shortage of labour but it will also affect the continuity of construction projects throughout the whole country," he told reporters in a press conference here today.
He also pointed out that those workers under the 6P program who do not leave Malaysia by next month, their status will change to illegal foreign workers.
"These whole scenario will not only cause delays but also will affect the date of completion for the construction projects that are in the pipeline," said Thew.
MBAM, PKMM,GBC and PKIM who submitted their memorandum to the Minister of Works Datuk Fadillah Yusof and Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi two weeks ago said the construction industry are in need to retain existing workforce to improve productivity and quality nation-building.
They said not all foreign construction workers who arrived in Malaysia have work experience in the construction sector or skills in any field of construction.
Thus, they added, that these workers need to be trained in advance and this requires additional investment in terms of time and money by their employer before the employee can start work.
Therefore, they said, the failure to extend the permit of the construction workers under 6P program will lead to the recruitment of thousands of new workers and unskilled workers to take their place.
MBAM vice president Chuan Yeong Ming said employers will then have to face a heavy levy processing fee of RM1,250 for each worker and a minimum of 6 to 7 months to replace a new worker which will affect the construction industry badly.