KOTA BARU: Deputy Human Resource Minister Senator Datuk Maznah Mazlan said 30,111 construction workers have been retrenched due to the economic downturn.

“Of the number, 75 percent or 22,583 are locals while the rest are foreigners. The ministry and construction companies have since created 36,358 job opportunities in various sectors,” she told reporters after a dialogue session with plantation managers here Sunday.

Maznah said of the local workers retrenched, 11,144 have found new jobs while the others have been sent for retraining for jobs in other sectors.

She reminded employers of the need to inform the Manpower Department of their retrenchment plans as the ministry wanted to ensure that the welfare of workers were safeguarded. – Bernama