Now Putrajaya says foreign worker recruitment suspended

Putrajaya has put on hold recruitment of foreign workers from all source countries, including Bangladesh, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, according to national news agency Bernama. Zahid's announcement comes hours after the human resources minister said not all of the 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers thought to be headed for Malaysia were meant for the country. Datuk Seri Richard Riot had said the figure was merely the number of Bangladesh citizens registered with their government for employment. Zahid was speaking in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, today, where according to Star Online, he said the suspension on foreign labour recruitment would be in place pending the government's review of recent changes to the levy system. Both the new levy system, which imposes a higher payment on employers using foreign workers, and the plan to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers have been criticised by employer groups and trade unions. – February 19, 2016. MORE TO COME]]>