KOTA KINABALU: Six trade associations are seeking speedy solutions from the Sabah government to resolve the foreign worker shortage faced by various industries in the state.

       As part of the solution, the associations – ranging from SMEs to plantations – want the state to open up its borders for foreign workers to come in and also consider providing amnesty to the estimated 1.2 million foreigners already in the state.

       Sabah Timber Industries Association (STIA), Timber Association of Sabah, Sabah Furniture Association, SME Association of Sabah, Sabah Employers Association (SEA) and The East Malaysia Planters' Association have submitted a memorandum appealing to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for help.

       The recommended measures in the memorandum were submitted by SEA secretary-general Fong Ming San through Deputy Chief Minister cum Industrial Development Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam.

       Fong said on Sunday (Jan 9) that Sabah's industries want the state to address a number of matters pertaining to the shortage, namely:

       > Opening of borders to allow industries to recruit workers from the Philippines and Indonesia.

       > Implementing another amnesty/regularisation exercise for the estimated 1.2 million illegal immigrants in the state.

       > Allowing the immediate application of foreign worker quotas, the automatic renewal of approved but unutilised quotas before the Covid-19 pandemic, and speedier processing of applications for foreign worker quotas.

       > Granting work permits to holders of IMM13 and red or green identity cards to Philippine and Indonesian immigrants currently in the state.

       > Continuing the 2019 Recalibration Programme stalled by the pandemic and allowing some 80,000 qualified but pending cases to be ready for legal employment.

       > Reducing the foreign worker Levy of RM6,000 (manufacturing, construction and services sectors) for those who have worked 11 years and above.

       > Renewing the work passes of documented workers who were unable to renew them due to Covid-19 movement controls.

       Fong said industries in the state that were dependent upon foreign labour had been in a dire situation since March 2020 after the country closed its borders as a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19.

       “Foreign workers with expired permits returned to their home countries and were subsequently unable to return to Malaysia.

       "At the same time, the government froze the intake of new foreign workers.

       “With the eventual opening up of economic activities, the need to address the foreign worker shortage is of utmost priority in industries aligned with 3D work (difficult, dirty and demanding) that locals shun,” he added.