GOVT TO REDUCE FOREIGN WORKERS IN STAGES - M'SIAN DPM

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- The government will reduce the foreign
workers population in stages so as not to jeopardise the country's economic
sector, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the National Anti-drug Council meeting
Thursday, Najib said, the government also wanted employers to give priority to
the locals.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said on Wednesday that it was time to
stop the intake of foreign workers particularly in the manufacturing and service
sector in the wake of the ongoing global economic crisis.

Najib said that the cabinet had also issued directives to the related
agencies to step up enforcement against foreigners working illegally, including
those in Sabah.

"This is because there are foreigners being employed illegally in certain
places... we need to take a firmer action on this," he said.

Najib said that the related ministries would be instructed to carry out
studies on the number of foreign workers in the country.

Asked on a report that some 6,000 workers were facing retrenchment in
northern state of Penang, Najib said, "We are not sure about the numbers yet but
we are monitoring the situation very closely."
-- BERNAMA