Master Builders asks govt to lift suspension on foreign workers' quota

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): Master Builders Association Malaysia has asked the government to lift the temporary suspension for workers' quota applications imposed by the Home Ministry in view of the current 6P process.

President Kwan Foh Kwai said the 6P programme workers are currently employed by contractors whose projects are under construction, whereas for contractors, who have secured new projects over the last three months, are unable to get enough workers as no new workers' quota was issued by the ministry.

"We urge the government to speed up the process, otherwise many ongoing and new projects will be seriously affected," he said in a statement.

Kwan said the construction industry was facing severe manpower shortage as too many construction companies in Malaysia were competing for a limited supply of talents.

"At present, there is a need for more foreign workers in the construction industry to meet the requirements for projects under the 10th Malaysia Plan and the Economic Transformation Plan," he added.

The 6P programme is a government initiative to legalise illegal foreign workers to help ease manpower strain in several economic sectors. — Bernama