KUALA LUMPUR: According to a World Bank report, Malaysia, in the coming years, will continue to be dependent on foreign labour for menial jobs as country's work force becomes more qualified and skilled, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam (pic).

He said the report indicated that most Malaysians would shy away from such jobs due to their enhanced qualifications and skills.

"The World Bank held a briefing recently with the ministry and indicated that the country would still require foreign labour for menial jobs as most Malaysians will not want to be employed in the sectors," he told reporters after witnessing a memorandum of understanding between Institute Megatech Sdn Bhd and TWI-ABM Certification Sdn Bhd here Tuesday.

The trend, he noted, was due to an increasing qualified and skilled local workforce as the nation strives towards developed state status in 2020.

"However, there is a positive outcome to this as the employment of foreign labour for menial jobs will allow the local workforce to fill in the sectors requiring qualified and skilled labour," he said.

He said the ministry was still studying details of the report.

He noted that the country required some 1.5 million skilled workers by 2020 to ensure implementation of the Government's Economic Transformation Programme covering 12 National Key Economic Areas.

"Some 200,000 skilled workers need to be trained each year for the next seven years if we are to achieve this," he said.

At the event, Subramaniam received a mock cheque of RM600,000 from Megatech as scholarship for some 60 Belia MIC members undergoing diploma and foundation courses with the skills-training institute.

Source: The Star Online/Published: Tuesday December 11, 2012 MYT 12:51:00 PM