Nepali workers to face competition in Malaysia

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Nepali foreign job aspirants wanting to join Malaysian jobs may face difficulties from the next month — August 1, 2012 — as the destination has withdrawn the ban on Bangladeshi workers that was imposed in October 2007. Malaysia has been offering jobs to about 7,500 Nepalis every month.

Reopening of the market to Bangladeshi workers will increase competition among migrant workers, said second vice president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies Kumud Khanal. “Bangladeshis are cheap workers, so demand for Nepali workers may take a dip and be diverted towards Bangladesh,” he said.

The Malaysian Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training had decided to lift the ban this week, official news agency Bernama reported. Director general of the bureau Begum Shamsun Nahar had submitted a proposal to the Malaysian government to open the job market for Bangladeshi workers on July 3.

The East Asian job market currently needs about one million workers in the manufacturing, agriculture and construction sectors. Its palm sector has been badly affected by a shortage of workers. According to the bureau, about 300,000 workers are needed to manage the palm sector, whereas the manufacturing sector has been facing a shortage of 500,000 workers.

“Bangladeshi workers demand lower salaries than Nepalis, so there is more chance of them being hired,” said Khanal. The average monthly salary for Bangladeshi workers is Malaysian Ringgit 350 (Rs 9,800) while Nepalis are getting MR 750 (Rs 21,000). “Salary will be the major factor in giving preference to Bangladeshis,” he said. However, the minimum wage in the destination is MR 900 (Rs 25,200). Malaysia has taken the decision to lift the ban after Bangladesh legalised their 267,803 workers and committed to a streamlined migration process. The ban had been imposed in October 2007, when over 2,000 workers who were cheated by outsourcing agencies were stranded in Kuala Lumpur.

About 400,000 Nepalis are believed to be working in Malaysia. According to the Department of Foreign Employment, about 84,351 Nepalis have joined Malaysian jobs in the last 11 months.

S Korea bans job change

KATHMANDU: South Korea, a lucrative destination for Nepali migrant workers, has banned foreign workers from changing jobs. The Ministry of Labour took the decision this week to manage foreign workers entering the job market through Employment Permit System. "The decision has been taken due to the emerging number of illegal foreign workers," the ministry said. Similarly, South Korean immigration office has made it mandatory for EPS workers to submit a police report to track their criminal history. South Korea had ranked Nepal as the best worker supplying country for the year 2011 under the EPS for the second time recognising Nepal's fast and efficient procedure of sending workers. Earlier in 2009 too, among 15 countries sending workers to South Korea, Nepal had ranked as the best country. South Korea is considered one of the best labour destinations for Nepali job seekers due to nice salaries, safety and perks compared to other destinations. Nepal’s efficient work on holding Korean Language Test and fast procedure for sending workers compared to other countries have impressed South Korea.