Its president Syed Hussain Syed Husman said that although employers were now regaining traction with the gradual removal of movement restrictions and cash flow assistance, there were still many economic activities that cannot run fully because of the lack of manpower.

“Many MEF members cannot get their businesses going because there are no workers. This situation cuts across the construction, plantation, manufacturing and services sectors.

“For example, the plantation sector has reported a shortage of 40,000 workers and lost RM10 billion in 2020, and these losses are not recoverable.

“We appeal to the government to provide the manpower needed to support these industries,” he said in a statement today.

Syed Hussain said the recruitment and related costs in hiring foreign workers was higher than hiring locals – up to RM15,000 to RM20,000 per foreign worker. However, despite efforts to engage local workers, employers are unable to attract them to work in these sectors.

He said the government needs to focus on ensuring efficient regulation of foreign workers and manage them in a controlled manner instead of imposing restrictions that would be difficult to enforce.

“We urge the government to urgently set up a special task force on foreign workers. The home affairs ministry and the human resources ministry have the expertise and experience to look into this matter and the MEF is willing to support in any manner if required.”