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Construction sector face supply chain and labour woes

KUCHING: The construction industry in Sarawak has seen a considerable easing of the shortage of workers, but the industry still faces a tight labour supply. Sarawak Master Builders Federation president James Ha Tung Ing said the industry is expected to face a temporary labour shortage from April to June during the upcoming Hari Raya and […]

Foreign labour shortage troubling projects

SRI AMAN: Foreign labour is a challenge that must be addressed promptly to ensure projects like the Pan Borneo Highway are completed on schedule. Senior Minister of Public Works Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the main challenges now include an inadequate supply chain (of building materials), the rising cost of building materials and insufficient workers. […]

Ministry looking forward to fully-digitalised platform in foreign manpower hiring

KUCHING: Minister Datuk Zuraidah Kamaruddin welcomes the agreement made by the Indonesian government to allow its workers into Malaysia, effective Aug 1. She added that, however in order to simplify the process of hiring foreign workers, the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) acknowledged that the process must be complete and efficient. “Hence, we […]

Indian restaurants breathe easy

These men ask for just the same thing, fairness, and fairness only. This, so far as in my power, they, and all others, shall have. – Abraham Lincoln, 16th American president On Jan 31, and again on April 18, I wrote about the plight of Indian eateries in the state. Many were forced to close […]

Govt urged to resolve shortage of foreign workers

By Ma Chee Seng And Lee Shaw Wei KUCHING: The state government has been urged to intervene and step up efforts to resolve the long-standing shortage of foreign workers. Sarawak Business Federation (SBF) secretary-general Datuk Jonathan Chai said that lack of coordination between the relevant authorities might be the reason why Indonesia is imposing a […]

Manpower woes trouble resurgent hotel and tourism sector

KUCHING: More tourists may be coming in with the reopening of the borders but the nation’s hospitality and tourism industry continues to grapple with labour shortages.  Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri disclosed that the industry is short of approximately 15,000 to 20,000 workers. “Shortage in labour is a challenge […]

Indian eateries may just fade away

Getting approval for foreign workers has been made very stringent and there is no way restaurateurs, especially small players, can meet all the conditions required by the government. — Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas) Indian and Indian-Muslim restaurants in Sarawak, just like their counterparts in Malaya, are struggling to stay afloat. Not because they do […]

The crisis of Malaysian palm oil and rubber gloves exports to the US

The recent developments affecting the palm oil and rubber gloves exports to the United States of America are a real cause of concern. In particular, the US import bans technically known as Withholding Release Orders (WROs) imposed on Sime Darby Plantation and FGV Holdings along with the EU’s anti-palm oil campaigns are “hurdles” to the […]

Water supply subsidised to the tune of RM150 mln

KUCHING: Sarawakians, the rural people in particular, are fortunate that they enjoy a huge water subsidy from the state government while at the same time get treated and clean water supply directly to their homes. Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi said the state government gave a subsidy of RM150 million to water consumers, […]

Bangladesh ready to meet Sarawak’s manpower needs

KUCHING: Bangladesh is looking forward to meeting Sarawak’s needs for workers in various sectors, especially the plantation sector. However, this would have to be done on a government-to-government basis, said Deputy High Commissioner of the High Commission for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Malaysia, Mohammad Khorshed A Khastagir. He said this during a courtesy […]