KL to employ more migrants

KL to employ more migrants

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysia will take in 120,000 more foreign workers, mostly Indonesians and Thais, to meet a labor shortage in the construction, plantation and manufacturing sectors, reports said on Tuesday.

The government -- which is in the middle of a campaign to deport illegal foreign workers -- last week approved applications by employers to bring in 120,000 more foreign workers over the next few months, following a recent intake of 70,000 foreign workers.

Deputy Home Minister Tajol Rosli Ghazali said the decision showed that despite the current economic downturn, Malaysia still had plenty of jobs available which could not be filled by locals.

Malaysia has 1.3 million registered foreign workers, but authorities believe there are almost two million foreign workers, with the rest being illegals from neighboring countries.