Updated: 29th March 2009, 1805 hrs
Over 26,000 jobs lost in Malaysia: report
More than 26,000 people in Malaysia have lost their jobs so far this year as the economic slowdown forced employers to cut back manpower.
Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan was quoted as saying that he expected further job losses in the coming weeks.
He added a 60 billion ringgit stimulus package unveiled earlier this month had not provided immediate incentive for companies to retain their workers.
The government has slashed its work permit approvals for foreign workers by almost 70 percent so far this year
It also cancelled work visas for 55,000 Bangladeshi workers after unions said the situation for Malaysians was bleak enough.
In January, the government also banned the hiring of new foreigners in the manufacturing and services sectors after a report forecast 45,000 Malaysians would lose their jobs in the next few months.
Malaysia is one of Asia's largest importers of labour and has an estimated 2.2 million foreign workers, who are the mainstay of the plantation and manufacturing sectors.
Over 26,000 jobs lost in Malaysia: report
More than 26,000 people in Malaysia have lost their jobs so far this year as the economic slowdown forced employers to cut back manpower.
Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan was quoted as saying that he expected further job losses in the coming weeks.
He added a 60 billion ringgit stimulus package unveiled earlier this month had not provided immediate incentive for companies to retain their workers.
The government has slashed its work permit approvals for foreign workers by almost 70 percent so far this year
It also cancelled work visas for 55,000 Bangladeshi workers after unions said the situation for Malaysians was bleak enough.
In January, the government also banned the hiring of new foreigners in the manufacturing and services sectors after a report forecast 45,000 Malaysians would lose their jobs in the next few months.
Malaysia is one of Asia's largest importers of labour and has an estimated 2.2 million foreign workers, who are the mainstay of the plantation and manufacturing sectors.
