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Malaysia's Migrant Labor Ban Draws Flack

Zsombor Peter

   KUALA LUMPUR - Business groups and policy experts are warning that a
   snap decision by the Malaysian government to limit migrant workers to
   just a few industries in a bid to put laid-off locals back to work
   could backfire.

   The country's virus-induced lockdown knocked more than 300,000 people
   out of work between February and May, pitching the unemployment rate up
   to 5.3%. Though the rate dipped slightly in June, unemployment is still
   higher than it's been in decades.

   To get more Malaysians back on the job, Human Resources Deputy Minister
   Awang Hashim told Parliament late last month that only the construction
   and agriculture sectors would be allowed to hire new workers from
   overseas from now on.

   "Other sectors will be staffed by local workers. This is the guideline
   we have set for our policy to reduce the number of foreign workers," he
   told lawmakers.

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