LOCALS URGED NOT BE TOO CHOOSY ABOUT JOBS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- The proposal by the Human Resources
Ministry to turn over 15,000 jobs held by foreign workers to the locals a month,
receives full support from Gerakan, a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional
coalition.

Gerakan Youth secretary-general Dr Dominic Lau said there were still plenty
of jobs available in certain sectors, particularly in the plantation and
services sectors.

"Many foreigners are working in restaurants, hawker complexes, coffee shops
and stalls... the locals, especially those recently retrenched, can take up
these tasks," he said in a statement.

Urging them not to be too choosy about jobs in this time of economic crisis,
Lau said, locals could also take over the job of domestic helpers from
foreigners.

He said that even though the salary might not be high, the income would help
them tide over the difficult time.

Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam said Wednesday that the
ministry would identify suitable jobs for the locals to take over from foreign
workers.

He said that the aim was to ensure that priority for these jobs was given to
locals who had been retrenched.
-- BERNAMA