By NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : Only 21,000 Pakistani workers were brought into Malaysia in the last six years following a manpower supply pact signed by both countries in October 2003.
Pakistani High Commission’s community welfare and labour attache Nadeem Ashraf said the actual quota under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) was 100,000 workers for the construction, plantation, manufacturing and services sectors.
Nadeem said the quota could not be fulfilled because the Pakistani workers felt the wages and perks here were unsatisfactory.
“Pakistani workers preferred to work in the Middle East countries where wages were very attractive and work conditions better. Moreover, it was also nearer home,” he told Bernama here.
Nadeem said the High Commission had set up a dedicated unit to assist Pakistani workers to get adjusted to the Malaysian way of life and also solve any problems they had with their employers.
He said they were also working closely with the Malaysian immigration authorities to ensure that the workers had valid documents.
Nadeem said 20 Pakistani nationals, who had overstayed here, had been repatriated in the last two months.
The mission was also assisting 90 others who were in the same predicament.