Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
He said the sector still needed a foreign workforce to boost its industrial
development programme, as locals were reluctant to work on the farms. </p>
<p>During his recent visit to Islamabad, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi discussed the possibility of recruiting Pakistani workers to work in
Malaysia.
<p>Muhyiddin said the Human Resource Ministry would outline the necessary requirements
to ensure only those with farming background and knowledge would be recruited.
</p>
<p>He also said Malaysia had decided to set up joint quarantine centres for cattle
with several source countries in view of the recurring foot-and-mouth disease
in the region. </p>
<p>He said that at present, only cattle from Australia were free of the disease
and the ministry felt there was a need for Malaysia to set up the centres to
ensure that imported cattle were disease-free. </p>
<p>Earlier, during a visit to a mushroom cultivation project in Kampung Parit
Medan, Muhyiddin said the crop could double the income of the farmers. </p>
<p>He said five villagers in the area had grouped together to cultivate mushrooms
and had managed to increase their monthly income. </p>
<p>He said the Government would provide farmers with the necessary assistance,
including financial allocation, materials and technical knowledge to help them
start a project. </p>
<p>"Since the Government only provides the support for about two years, the
farmers must be able to continue the projects on their own after that,"
he added.
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