Home Minister, Dato Seri Hamzah Zainuddin has stated that 80 percent of prisoners who showed good behaviour under the parole system could be assigned to industries where foreign labour shortage is imminent.
This comes as Malaysia is struggling to fill most of the vacancies left behind by foreign workers when many were not able to return due to border closing and amendments to labour policies having still not been completed.
While the move seems to be appropriate given the circumstances, there have been quarters from both the employee side and the public who have reservations about ex-convicts being on the factory floor or on plantations. The stigma has yet to change, although industries that are desperate have welcomed such moves by the government. However, there have also been arguments of exploitation, as this was the reason behind US Customs issuing WRA order on Sime Darby Plantation on abusing its workers who were alleged to be from the parole system.
Hopefully, these individuals are paid accordingly regardless of their social status as no one should be underpaid for an honest day’s work.
