KOTA
KINABALU: The authorities in Sabah should increase the quota of foreign
workers, especially to meet the needs of both Mamak and Chinese eateries in the
State, said Sabah Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DPIM)
President, Datuk Baisul Khan.
He
said that Mamak shops in the State alone need an extra 2,000 workers and were
forced to circumvent the problem by hiring IMM13 workers and, in some cases,
illegals, to make up for the shortage.
Baisul
said some members were contemplating closing shop if the lack of workers
persists. "As it is some of them have told me they have already cut short
their hours due to lack of workers."
Baisul
said with this problem coupled with the existing Cabotage policy in the State
and the fact that the minimum wage is coming into force early next year, there
is a possibility where they may also have to increase the prices of their food
and drinks.
He
said there has been poor response from locals to work in coffeeshops,
restaurants, bakeries and also sundry shops, accounting for less than 10 per
cent of their workers.
"We
are actually appealing to the local workers to work with us in the industry but
the response has not been encouraging due to long hours.
The
locals prefer to work in supermarkets or seek work in the peninsula or
Singapore.
"This
has led to a vacuum where we do not have workers to serve. So we are appealing
to the Government to do something before the situation goes beyond our
control," he said.
He
said this in a press conference organised by the Coffeeshop and Restaurant
Operators Association comprising the West Coast Restaurant and Coffeshop
Association, Sabah Restaurant and Cafe Association, Sabah Confectionery and
Bakery Association and Sabah Restaurant Association in Kolombong on Tuesday.
Baisul
added that the Government currently charges a levy which comes close to RM2,200
in total for each Indian restaurant worker brought in from India and that by
allowing the increase of the workers the government stands to gain more income
from the additional levies.
"Last
year the Government earned RM86 million just from the levy alone. We are
willing to pay the levy for these workers but the quota we are given by the
Labour Department is just not enough. In Semenanjung getting enough workers is
not a problem. You pay the levy and you can get the workers."
He
said the State sees a lot of tourists from Japan, Korea and Taiwan, for
example, who come here to enjoy the cuisine including seafood and also enjoy
the natural scenery.
"However
when they visit our restaurants, we are unable to serve them due to the
shortage of manpower and as a result after waiting for some time they are fed
up and eventually leave.
This
represents a loss in business for us," he said. "As such we are
appealing to the State Government to come up with a solution for our
problems."
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