The Malaysian Insight

VEGETABLE farmers are perplexed by the government’s assurance that approval for foreign hires can be processed as quickly as three days.

Federation of Vegetable Farmers Associations president Lim Ser Kwee, president said he did not see how approval to hire foreign workers could be obtained iso quickly.

The applications have to go through the agriculture, human resources and home affairs ministries and the local council, Lim said.

“I’m not sure if that simplifies the process,” he added.

Lim said the vegetable farmers’ biggest headache is the law requiring them to provide accommodation for the workers.

He pointed out that many small farmers do not have the land for that.

Lim said some of the farms are located in remote areas without access to electricity and water.

“How can these farmers build workers’ quarters when there is no water and electricity there?

“I hope the authorities can be accommodating to these vegetable farmers. We are eager to hire the foreign workers legally.

“If these small farmers can’t hire them, they could be forced to hire them illegally.”

The Minimum Standards of Employee Housing, Accommodation and Facilities (Amendment) Order 2021 (Order 446) came into force last year.

It is stated that all employers must provide their foreign workers with accommodation, which is defined as “any building or structure, permanent or temporary, including any house, hut, shed or covered enclosure suitable for human habitation “.

SME Association of Malaysia president Ding Hong Sing said it is possible for applications for foreign workers to be approved in a week.

“The key is to submit documents that are complete.”

Like the vegetable farmers, SME members complain that it is hard to meet the condition for accommodation.

Ding said the association had proposed alternative solutions but they were rejected.

One of the proposals is to rent a house for the workers.

He said a shortage of workers and cash flow problems are the main reasons for the slow recovery of the SMEs.

Restaurant and Bistro Owners Association vice-president Jeremy Lim wants the government to set up a one-stop centre to process the application for migrant workers.

Lim said the catering sector often had their applications rejected because some government officials   believe the jobs should be filled by locals.

“They just won’t approve our applications.”

Lim said if the catering sector is not allowed to hire foreign workers, then the authorities should make the policy clear.

“They must not be ambiguous about it.”

The government has removed the quotas for foreign workers to allow demand-based employment in bid to boost its economy.

Employers are now allowed to source workers from 15 countries. – January 18, 2023.