Foreign workers in 3D sectors leaving the country in droves

PETALING JAYA: For umpteen years the 3D (dirty, difficult and dangerous) jobs in Malaysia are mainly undertaken by foreign workers.
But the recent immigration blitz on illegals, coming on the heels of the deflated ringgit, has prompted many skilled foreign workers to look for better opportunities in third countries.
This phenomenon is not only a bane for employers who have spent money and time to train their foreign workers but also turned Malaysia into a "training ground" for producing skilled foreign workers for countries in the region that need their expertise.
Making matters worse is locals' reluctance to take up 3D jobs, allowing legal foreign workers in the shrunken labour force to dictate terms of employment, thus raising production costs and threatening to push up inflation rate.
This is not a simple matter of rounding up illegal foreign workers, it has become a big economic issue that will cause a vicious circle.
Perak Furniture Makers and Dealers Association president Wong Sun Ming told Nanyang Siang Pau in a report today that in the furniture making industry, a new hand needs at least three months to learn to operate the machines with ease, and a year's apprenticeship to become a skilled worker.
"But because of devaluation of the ringgit, most foreign workers choose to leave Malaysia after honing their skills, for other countries where they can get much higher pay," said Wong, explaining why Malaysia has become a training ground for skilled workers sought by third countries.
In the past, there was a big pay gap between a master carpenter and a foreign worker under his charge, he said, adding that things have changed, as a skilled foreign worker is now getting not much less than his "sifu", and "in fact is taking home much more than the latter if overtime pay is taken into account".
"Unfortunately, the much improved terms nowadays cannot stem the flow of skilled foreign workers out of the country.
"It is estimated that furniture makers in the country lose an average of 30% of their skilled workers every year," he said, adding that there was not much industry players could do but suffer in silence.