Over 150,000 foreign workers in Sarawak hold temporary employment passes

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 150,927 migrant workers in Sarawak are valid Visit Pass Temporary Employment (PLKS) holders as of Sept 30, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Masir Kujat said of the total, there were 69,666 migrant workers in the plantation sector; manufacturing (33,751); construction (26,260); services (10,621); agriculture (6,644) and domestic workers 3,985 people.

He said the need to fill up vacancies available in these sectors in Sarawak had forced employers to hire migrant workers and submit numerous PLKS applications.

"With so many job vacancies not filled, employers in these sectors have to apply for PLKS," he said.

He was replying to a question from Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kuching City) who wanted to know the number of registered foreign workers in Sarawak according to sectors and the estimated number of illegal foreign workers in the state.

Masir added that PLKS applications for foreign workers in Sarawak could only be reduced if there were less requirement for foreign workers from employers. – Bernama