Malaysia Economic Monitor, December 2015 : Immigrant Labour
Growth moderated throughout 2015, affected by a slowdown in private consumption and weak export growth. The authorities have generally managed the downturn in commodity prices and the financial market volatility with a reasonable mix of macro polic...
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| Format: | Report |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2016
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/12/25693867/malaysia-economic-monitor-immigrant-labor http://hdl.handle.net/10986/23565 |
| Summary: | Growth moderated throughout 2015,
affected by a slowdown in private consumption and weak
export growth. The authorities have generally managed the
downturn in commodity prices and the financial market
volatility with a reasonable mix of macro policies.
Heightened external volatility calls for prudent macro
policies and acceleration of structural reforms. The
eleventh Malaysia plan stresses the importance of effective
migration management to achieve high-income country status
by 2020. Immigration continues to play a crucial role in
Malaysia’s development. While job growth has recently been
concentrated in high-skilled occupations, three quarters of
all jobs in Malaysia are still low- and mid-skilled.
Econometric modelling suggests that immigrant workers can
raise gross domestic product (GDP) and create employment for
Malaysians. The current process for sourcing immigrant
workers is complex and costly for the migrant. The
immigration system can better meet the country’s development
objectives if it is aligned with Malaysia’s human resource
development strategy. Global experience shows that
successful immigration systems recognize the long-term role
of immigrant workers in the hosting country’s economic and
social objectives if they are: (a) market-driven, with
immigration flows aligned with labor market demands; (b)
comprehensive, acknowledging the need for immigrants of all
types; and (c) balanced, minimizing the negative impacts on
Malaysian workers, and protecting immigrant workers from abuse. |
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