What the Human Resource Ministry has done to reduce dependence on foreign workers?

NST - The Human Resource Ministry has taken various steps to reduce the dependence on foreign workers in the country. Human Resource Minister Dr S Subramaniam said among them was by advertising the jobs slated for foreign workers to the locals first.

"We at the Ministry also help these sectors to get locals to work with them but if all fails then we have no choice but to allow them to take in foreign workers," Subramaniam told the Dewan Neagara during the question and answer session.

He was replying to a question by Datuk Kamarudin Ambok who asked the Human Resource Minister to state the measures taken by the Government to overcome the dependency on foreign workers in all sectors.

Subramaniam said foreigns workers earned well in Malaysia and some could also take home RM2,000 a month.

"Working in the plantations is a well paying job. I was told that a plantation worker, who are now mostly foreigners, take home about RM2,000 a month," he added.