KUALA LUMPUR: The freeze on foreign workers intake for the barber, textile and goldsmith sub-sectors has been lifted.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the matter would be discussed further in the cabinet meeting on Friday.
"While we're looking at bringing in foreign workers, it should be reopened with conditions, maybe approve a portion of the number (quota) requested (by the industry).
"We must also look at training local youths through TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) so that they can be employed in these sectors as well," he said in his speech when launching the Lestari Niaga programme @ Kuala Lumpur held at Medan Selera Madani, Kompleks Tun Sambanthan.
Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar when met later said a cabinet memorandum had been prepared and would be presented during the meeting.
He said the sub-sectors needed about 15,000 foreign workers to address the labour shortage.
He also said he previously held discussions with home minister; and domestic trade and cost of living minister and they have principally to reopen hiring foreign labour in the three sectors.
About 3,000 employers in the three sectors were affected by the freeze, with most of them in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Currently, foreign workers in the businesses have been on temporary employment passes renewed annually, following the ban.