Foreign workers must learn Malay: Report<\/p>\n
Foreign workers in Malaysia will have to take a course in
\nMalaysia's language and culture before they are allowed to work
\nin the country, a minister said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
From Nov. 1 they must undergo an induction course in the
\nlanguage, culture and religion of multiracial Malaysia, said
\nHuman Resources Minister Fong Chan Onn.<\/p>\n
Only workers from neighboring Indonesia, which speaks the same
\nlanguage, will be exempt.<\/p>\n
The foreign workers would also be required to have insurance
\ncover, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Their applications to work in Malaysia will be rejected if
\nthey fail to comply with the two regulations,\" Fong was quoted as
\nsaying by Bernama news agency.<\/p>\n
He said the duration and syllabus of the course would be
\ndetermined through discussions between ministry officials and the
\nrelevant countries. It would be conducted in the workers' country
\nof origin.<\/p>\n
Malaysia relies on foreign unskilled labor to do dirty, poorly
\npaid work that locals shun, and is one of Asia's largest
\nimporters of foreign labor. Foreign workers, both legal and
\nillegal, number about 2.6 million of its 10.5 million workforce.<\/p>\n
There have been occasional reports of brawls between foreign
\nworkers of different nationalities in Malaysia in recent years.
\nThe authorities are concerned that such clashes may involve
\nMalaysian nationals in the near future.<\/p>\n
An acute labor shortage caused by a crackdown on illegal
\nimmigrants in March prompted the government to fast-track the
\nrecruitment of some 100,000 Pakistanis.<\/p>\n
The government has also been looking for workers from India,
\nSri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and Vietnam. -- AFP<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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