MORE THAN 200,000 FOREIGN WORKERS LAID-OFF

KUANTAN (Malaysia), May 18 (Bernama) -- More than 200,000 foreign workers
were laid off in the country during the period from October 2008 until early May
2009, Deputy Human Resource Minister Maznah Mazlan said.

However, she said, the number of foreign workers being laid off in the
country due to the global economic crisis was lower this year.

"The retrenchment of workers was higher late last year when the global
crisis was seen at its worst, and beginning this year until May, the number of
workers being laid off is reported to have dropped," she told reporters after
opening the state-level employment carnival here Sunday.

Maznah said the carnival involved the participation of 38 employers,
offering more than 5,000 employment opportunities for job seekers.
-- BERNAMA