MAICCI PROPOSED TO ALLOW EXTENSION OF THEIR FOREIGN WORKERS

PUTRAJAYA, March 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) has proposed to the government to allow the
extension of the permits of about 90,000 of their existing foreign workers in
the country.

Its president, K.K Eswaran, said this was because they were short of
workers, which could affect their businesses.

If the government could not meet the request, they wanted to be allowed to
recruit new workers as replacements, he said after meeting Prime Minister Najib
Razak Thursday.

"At the moment, after five years, the permit won't be renewed and what we
ask is to allow an extension. We are not asking for additional foreign labour,"
he said.

The MAICCI has 14 trade organisations comprising Indian restaurants, Indian
Muslim restraurants, scrap metal operators, news vendor, textile and hair
dressing salons as members.

Eswaran said they also hired local workers but they did not stay long
because they could not bear the heavy work.

According to Eswaran, Najib said that he would seriously look into the
matter and take it up to the cabinet.
-- BERNAMA