KUALA LUMPUR: The government should go beyond issuing mere fines against companies which fail to hire foreign workers they took in.
The ministry responsible for issues related to foreign labour must also be held accountable for the problem, said MCA vice president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng.
He said the government must also investigate and severely penalise the related ministers and officers who had hastily approved the entry of these foreign workers into the country.
"Although employers and agencies have certain responsibilities on this issue, the root of this problem lies in the approval granted by the ministers and officers that enabled the entry of these foreign workers," he said in a statement today.
Tan voiced concern over the lack of transparent review standards, the nature of the approved work, and the "secrecy" surrounding the controversy.
The public, he said, has reason to question these points.
"Why did the minister and its officers fail to do their homework and approve the entry of these foreign workers without stringent review?
"Why were there no jobs available for these foreign workers after the approval was given? What type of work were the foreign workers supposed to perform? Why the secrecy behind this controversy?"
Tan said if employers or agencies are to face fines, the minister and officers should bear greater responsibility for their haste and incompetence.
"Their actions have seriously tarnished the reputation of the country and government.
"Not only have they caused Malaysia to be perceived as a destination of forced labour, they have also caused other foreign workers to think twice about coming to work in our country again," he said.
Expressing concern over potential accountability gaps, Tan warned against limiting actions to errant companies and agencies while letting ministers and officers off the hook.
He stressed that failure to hold those in power accountable would result in a loss of accountability within the system.
Tan's comments came on the heels of Plantations and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani's proposal that companies be fined up to RM30,000 for each foreign worker brought in who is not employed after a month.
Johari had said that strict punishment would force companies to reconsider bringing in workers if they could not guarantee employment.