SHAH ALAM: Statistics show that the number of foreign workers in Selangor has reduced by 94,900 after two years of Covid-19 pandemic.

Datuk Teng Chang Khim, Chairman of Standing Committees for Investment, Industry & Commerce and SME Selangor, said in Wednesday’s state assembly meeting that the number of foreign workers in the state was reduced to 349,300 last year from 444,100 in 2019.

The 349,300 foreign workers made up of 9.9% of Selangor’s working population.

“Based on the statistics from the Immigration Department, a total of 449,878 foreign workers with temporary work permits were in Selangor from January to December 2020.

“But the number dropped to 352,989 last year. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of foreign workers was reduced by 21.5% or 96,889,” he said.

Selangor’s working population stood at 3.52 million last year, or 23.4% of the national total.

Teng replied to a query by Meru state assemblyman Mohd Fakhrul Razi Mohd Mokhtar that based on dialogue held between the state government and manufacturers, factories were unable to hire locals to fill vacancies left by foreign workers.

This was because locals were not interested in manufacturing jobs, he said.

“The state government has allowed foreign workers to work in sectors shunned by the locals, including services, manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture and mining industries.

“Sub-sector industries such as restaurants, cleaning companies, resorts, hotels, water therapy treatment, foot massage, cargo, wholesale and sundry shops are allowed to hire foreign workers,” he said.