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Malaysia Reopens its Doors for Migrant Workers Amid Labor Shortage

Part 1. Vocabulary

severe

[suh-veer] adj.

- threatening a seriously bad outcome or involving serious issues; grave:

"It's a severe illness."

tabled

[tey-buhld] 

- to present (a proposal, resolution, etc.) for discussion.

"As tabled by the human resources ministry."

optimum

[op-tuh-muhm] adj.

- most favorable or desirable; best:

"Optimum conditions."

migrant (workers)

[mahy-gruhnt   wur-kers] n.

- a person who moves from place to place to get work

The country relies heavily on migrant workers in the construction, manufacturing, and plantations sectors.

prior

[prahy-er] adj.

- preceding in time or in order; earlier or former; previous:

"A prior agreement prevents me from accepting this."

 

Part 2. Comprehension Questions

What will Malaysia allow into the country? Why?

What has the Human Resources Ministry tabled?

Why did Malaysia ban the hiring of foreign workers in June 2020?

What data come from the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia?

What will foreign workers need to follow to enter Malaysia?

 

Part 3. Article Reading

Malaysia will allow foreign workers into the country again by lifting a 16-month ban due to the coronavirus, a move prompted by severe labor shortages, particularly in the plantation sector, the prime minister said Friday.

“The Special Committee on Pandemic Management today has agreed on the Standard Operating Procedures set for the entry of foreign workers to Malaysia [e] especially to fill the needs of the plantation sector, as tabled by the Human Resources Ministry,” Ismail Sabri said in a statement.

Some 32,000 foreign workers for the plantation sector may arrive in stages, starting soon, the minister in charge of plantations and industries had said earlier this month.

Malaysia banned the hiring of foreign workers in June 2020 to prioritize jobs for locals in an economy wrecked by the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to labor shortages in a country that relies heavily on migrant workers in the construction, manufacturing, and plantations sectors.

Before the pandemic hit, there were between 1.7 and 2 million registered foreign workers in Malaysia.

Now, according to data from the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, plantations require 70,000 foreign workers, the construction sector needs 200,000, the furniture industry is short 30,000, and the manufacturing and the rubber-glove industries need 50,000.

Documented foreigners make up 80 percent to 85 percent of the plantation workforce – or 265,000 people – according to data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.

Nageeb Wahab, the CEO of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association Chief, said he breathed a sigh of relief at the PM’s announcement.

“Given the chance, all of the [plantation] companies would want to seek the optimum quota of foreign workers. I would believe that number would be in excess of 75,000 workers,” Wahab told BenarNews.

Foreign workers would need to follow strict health protocols to enter Malaysia, Ismail Sabri said.

“They need to be fully vaccinated with vaccines approved by the World Health Organization and submit a copy of their vaccination certificate prior to departure. They are also required to get tested for COVID-19 before traveling to Malaysia,” he said.

Upon arrival, the workers will then have to be in quarantine at centers approved by the government, for seven days.

“During the quarantine, the workers will need to undergo COVID-19 tests on the second and the fifth day,” the PM said.

Source: Read the full article here. Noah Lee and Nisha David
Kuala Lumpur https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/malaysian/malaysia-allows-return-migrant-workers-10222021144646.html

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