MIRI: Sarawakians will be given priority in taking up jobs as the oil and gas industry rebounds post-Covid-19 in the state.
The state government will in this instance only accede to requests to hire those from outside Sarawak, including expatriates, if it is convinced locals are not qualified for certain jobs, both offshore and onshore.
Deputy Minister in Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala gave the assurance following concerns about employers hiring outsiders for the industry.
He was speaking at the opening of the Sarawak Oil and Gas Workers Association (SOGWA) career and training fair at Permy Mall, here.
He revealed that some oil and gas companies had recently met with him to highlight their need for non resident workers including expatriates as they were not able to find suitable Sarawakian workers.
“SOGWA president Jamal Abdullah and exco members visited me and have written letters expressing concern about employers recruiting non-Sarawakians to work in the oil and gas industry in the state.
“I have assured them that my ministry’s role is to ensure eligible and available Sarawakians are given priority for jobs.
“Only if employers cannot recruit local Sarawakians, will we approve work permits to bring employees from outside or non residents,” he explained
Gerawat said even if work permits for non-Sarawakians, especially expatriates, were to be approved the ministry always made it a condition that the employer trains Sarawakians to take over these jobs in a few years.
“In other words my ministry’s function is to both protect jobs for Sarawakians by giving them priority and creating new job opportunities for Sarawakians by getting them into higher paying jobs,” Gerawat pointed out.
In this respect he said with the recovery of the oil and gas industry after the pandemic, oil and gas activities have started to pick up which means more employment opportunities and more business opportunities.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts I (Tourism) Datuk Sebastian Ting, Miri Mayor Adam Yii and SOGWA president Jamal Abdullah @ Tedong Chakaw.
At the event, Gerawat has also announced an allocation of RM15,000 in support of SOGWA’s career fair.
A total 14 exhibitors from oil and gas companies are taking part in the fair which kicked off Saturday.
