KUALA LUMPUR: Plantations and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the proposed RM30,000 fines for companies and agents bringing in foreign workers without providing them jobs within a month align with the gravity of the offence.
In a Facebook post, he said the compound would also cover the cost of the foreign workers' repatriation to their home countries.
"The suggested fines are proportional to the offence and to cover the cost of repatriating foreign workers to their home countries, as previously it was borne by the government.
Johari said he was compelled to propose the compounds following the incident on Dec 25, where 171 Bangladeshi workers in Kota Tinggi, Johor, were detained after walking en masse to the Bayu Damai Police Station as the employment companies or agents refused to offer them jobs.
He said this is despite the crucial industries suffering from the lack of workers, especially under those in the 'difficult, dangerous, dirty' (3D) classification.
"For instance, the rubber plantation sector alone needs about 70,000 to 80,000 workers to tend to the needs of 420,000 hectares of smallholders' rubber fields.
"This does not account for the employment requirements in sectors like palm oil, cocoa, and pepper plantations."
Johari said if employment agents bring in foreign workers but wait to see which company will provide them with work, it implies they're treating employment as a business.
"This practice cannot be allowed to proliferate.
"This indicates that certain employment companies are trying to exploit the situation as a business opportunity.
He added that it would tarnish the country's image as foreign workers arrive in the country expecting work but instead face issues in finding employment.
Johari also said in addressing the matter, jurisdictional issues of foreign workers are being discussed between several ministries, especially the Human Resources Ministry and the Home Ministry.