The Malaysian Insight

TRADERS want the government to reconsider the ban on foreign workers at Kuala Lumpur wholesale market in Selayang, because local workers are quitting and traders fear more will follow suit in search of other jobs.

While the wholesalers said the policy on local workers only has merit, they are concerned that these workers may seek other jobs once the Covid-19 pandemic is under control and the economy recovers.

As it is, many locals are leaving their jobs at the market each week, said Kuala Lumpur Hoi Seong Fish Wholesalers Association president Sing Kian Hock.

“Will we face a manpower shortage again?” he said to The Malaysian Insight.

The policy to hire Malaysians only at the market came into force on January 1 and wholesalers say it has improved working conditions at the market.

They were able to find local workers easily because of the pandemic’s impact on the economy, resulting in high unemployment.

“At present, locals have filled 70% to 80% of vacancies at the wholesale market, but when the pandemic is under control, what will happen as the economy recovers?

“After all, working at the wholesale market is a hard, dangerous and dirty job,” Sing said.

While local workers at the market have kept the situation afloat, Sing said he has faced difficulties in retaining them.

Of the 12 locals he has hired since May 2020, only two are still on the job.

Sing believes that the government should allow foreign workers to return to work at the market, provided they are documented correctly.

“It is the best policy in the long-run, as local workers will leave sooner or later. Instead of wasting time finding and retraining people, it is better to retain foreign workers who are capable.

“There are a lot of foreign workers have worked here for at least 10 years and have the experience.”

Sing said he met Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa recently to convey these concerns about workers but the ministry is still against the idea.

Sing warned that the market will again face manpower shortages, affecting the rest of the food supply and distribution chain to other retailers, supermarkets and markets, if the government doesn’t start planning now.

To prepare for the future when more local workers are expected to find other jobs, the association is joining forces with other wholesale groups to hold a recruitment drive, as well as to continue pressing the government to provide a quota for foreign workers.

Day-to-day hiring

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Vegetable Wholesalers’ Association president Wong Keng Fatt said there are local workers resigning from their jobs at vegetable stalls almost every week.

He said, due to the high turnover in local workers, some stalls at the market hire on a daily basis only, paying RM70 to RM100 for a day’s work.

On this basis, they are able to ensure they have sufficient manpower for the time being.

The wholesale market has 448 stalls, of which 168 sell fish, 216 vegetables and 64 in fruits.

Kuala Lumpur Fruit Wholesalers’ Association president Chin Nyuk Moi also urged the government to reconsider its complete ban on foreign workers, as it would burden wholesalers in the long run.

“Some members have said they might have to close their business if they cannot hire foreigners after their local workers leave,” she said.

The policy to ban foreign workers from the wholesale market was mooted last year after several foreign workers contracted Covid-19 and sparked clusters that spread to other markets.

Prior to which, there were already complaints that undocumented migrants had also taken up jobs at the market, or set up stalls illegally, causing hygiene problems and misunderstandings at the market.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall now allows only locals to work as stall assistants, failing which traders will have their licences revoked. – January 9, 2021.