Employers Hiring Foreign Workers: Local Employees Unhappy

The Malaysia Airline System Empolyees Union (MASEU) received numerous phone calls from locals who are jobless, voicing out their concern on the latest development and practice by some employers in hiring foreign workers.

MASEU executive secretary, Mustafar Maarof said the union was told by these people that they had applied to work as ground staff at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and Bayan Lepas International Airport, Penang but were unsuccessful.

"This action taken by the employers in hiring foreign workers has deprived our local workers of job opportunities while some of these foreign workers have contributed social problems in this country," he said in a statement here Friday.

He said the recruitment was carried out by private companies appointed by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) while no such notice of vacancies was circulated or published in any local newspapers, except vacancies for managerial and administrative positions.

He said MASEU would like to urge the government, MAS and Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAB) to look into this matter urgently.

Mustafar said currently there were almost 1,000 foreign workers engaged directly under MAS operation who were employed by the private companies or vendors appointed by MAS and these foreign workers worked at the conveyor baggage section, delivery of baggage to the aircraft, MAS Cargo and some of them were employed as Forklift Drivers.

Yesterday, MASEU urged the government to reduce the number of foreign workers that were brought in by private companies appointed by MAS at the KLIA, especially at the high-risk areas. (Bernama)

***** It's not without solid reasons that bosses prefer foreign workers. Apart from the fact that they are easier to 'handle' and can be overworked and underpaid by unscrupulous employers without much repercussion, the clinching factor remains the attitude of the average Malaysian worker - fundamentally lazy, expects something for nothing (to borrow a line from the 'Yes Prime Minister' series) While there are many industrious and conscientious Malaysians at all grades of employment, it is some of the indolent blue collar employees who bring disrepute and disgrace to the rest.

The rate of absenteeism and production levels leave much to be desired. Give them a little extra work and these fragile specimens must take a day-and-a-half of rest to get over the fatigue. "Tak larat lah" is their perennial excuse. They are a nuisance at government and private clinics where they display their best histrionic skills which would put Oscar performers to shame, all for that much sought after commodity, the medical certificate.

They are the Human Resource Department's biggest headache and if they don't get their way, a popular modus operandi is to sabotage production, threaten officials and destroy company property.

We have read about how terribly inefficient, our workers have fared in MAS and how they've brought a bad name to the airline and the airports as well. Our local workers were instrumental in so many cases of pilfering and theft of baggages and other stuff. Now when foreign workers are brought in to remedy the mess, our pekerja tempatan scream 'unfair' and 'social problems.' Rubbish.

The government should not give into lazy, tidak apa mentality-ridden xenophobic half wits who when given the chance, screwed everything up. Allow foreigners to clear up the mess created by Malaysian workers. What other credible alternative is there?
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