Dependency on foreign workers will reduce productivity: National Professor Council

PUTRAJAYA: High and continuous dependency on foreign workers will reduce productivity in the long run.
This is due to lack of initiative from employers to be technologically innovative in their businesses, the National Professor Council said.
"Although we acknowledge and admit that Malaysia is currently depending on foreign workers in five major sectors and industries, it is also important to note that this trend would sooner or later make productivity stagnant if not lower.
"This is because employers will not have motivation to be innovative," its chief executive director Datuk Raduan Che Rose said said.
Speaking at a press conference after chairing a roundtable discussion on issues and challenges of foreign workers in Malaysia, he said Malaysian employers should convert to technology and innovation intensive from labour intensive.
"The foreign workers who are working in the manufacturing, construction and plantation sectors for example are either unskilled or low skilled and there is no facilities or space for the employers to train them to become better in their skills," Raduan said.
He said the council is engaging with institutes, stakeholders and government agencies to come up with a proper framework in managing the foreign workers effectively.
"The framework should become the national strategic plan in managing foreign workers and tackling challenges faced.
"It will base comprehensively on technology and innovation intensive while considering the foreign workers welfare and protection,"Raduan added.
He said this will also encourage Malaysian institutes to increase innovation so that we would not be too dependent on foreign workers.
Raduan also stressed that it was agreed in the roundtable discussion that the concept of hiring foreign workers should be restructured and improved.
The restructuring include changing the 3D concept of "dirty, difficult and dangerous" to "decent, discipline and dignified".
Among those present at the 2-hour roundtable were professors from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, representatives from Perbadanan Productiviti Malaysia, Malaysian Employers Federation, Institut Sosial Malaysia, Incorporated Society of Planters and National Union of Drink Industry Workers.
Raduan noted that two crucial authorities dealing with foreign workers — Human Resource Ministry and Home Ministry — were not present despite confirming attendance for the roundtable discussion.