PUTRAJAYA: The Human Resources Ministry has estimated that about 6.7 million foreign labourers were currently working in the country and more than half of them were here without permits.
Its minister Datuk Richard Riot Jaem said the figure was based on the ratio of at least one illegal immigrant for every one with a permit although the official figure stood at about 2.9 million legal workers.
Describing the situation as a “very serious matter”, Richard said the foreign labourers could be found working in all sectors despite being mostly brought in for agriculture, construction and manufacturing.
“The country is over flooded with foreign workers and we need to find a mechanism to reduce their numbers,”
“We should strongly uphold the government’s principles and policies in giving priority (on employment) to locals,” he told a press conference, here, today.