Senior Citizens Welcome Move

The New Straits Times Press 

September 16, 2008

Malaysia

Groups representing the disabled and senior citizens welcomed the government's plan to replace foreign workers with Malaysians for jobs which are "not dangerous, dirty or difficult" but they are not convinced that it will take off. Senior Citizens Association (Secita) for Selangor and Federal Territory president Choo Thye said it was a good idea, provided the job was suitable for senior citizens.

"There are senior citizens too bored at home with too much time on their hands. The men, especially, will be happy to go to the hypermarkets to work and pass their day," she said.

Choo also added that not many senior citizens were taking up jobs in hypermarkets as there was no proper channel or agency that registered them for these jobs.

She was commenting on Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad's statement on Sunday that hypermarkets, especially the foreign-owned ones, would be asked to take measures to cut the number of their foreign workers.

Damai Disabled Persons Association of Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan Malaysia president V. Murugeswaran said the offer should not be restricted to able-bodied people only but open to the disabled as well.

He said the disabled like those with hearing disabilities could work in store rooms or carry things.

"Those in wheelchairs can work as cashiers while others can try jobs like sticking labels. That is not difficult," he said, adding that they could even work as promoters.

However, he said the main problem in employing the disabled would be their transportation as not all the current public transport were disabled-friendly.

Meanwhile, Giant Hypermarket said it was now looking into the possibility of replacing foreign workers with locals.

Its spokesman said the hypermarket only employed foreigners as cleaners and said it was in the process of reducing their number.

Another hypermarket, which did not want to be named, is not convinced the plan will take off. It said Malaysians generally considered the jobs that foreigners took up in hypermarkets as beneath them.

He said it was impossible to replace them with locals as the jobs did not have many takers.

Recruitment agency People Source chief executive officer Shahul Hameed Dawood agreed that locals were not interested in taking such jobs although they were considered as "not dangerous, dirty or difficult".

"It is not difficult to replace them but there are other factors to be considered like the long hours and zero absenteeism. Our people are not ready to do such jobs."

He said foreigners were preferred to locals as they did not take leave and could be called to work anytime. 

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