With employers becoming stingy these days, local Malaysians are being systematically denied job opportunities in Port Klang to give way for foreigners who are willing to accept similar jobs at much lower salary.

As alleged by MTUC (Malaysia Trade Union Congress), more than 2,000 jobs have been taken by foreign workers who come from various countries including Nepal, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Indonesia, among others. They work as drivers, general workers, cleaners, lashers and other type of work that require physical commitment.

According to the MTUC vice president, A. Balasubramaniam, another body, The Union of Employees of Port Ancillary Services Suppliers (UNEPASS), had brought the matter to the Port Klang Authority (PKA), but to date no firm action has been taken on the complaint.

But looking at the nature of the jobs, it does not take an Albert Einstein to figure out that many Malaysians, who are considered the choosy lot, would be willing to opt for labour intensive jobs such as laborers, cleaners and general workers doing the menial duty.

Nevertheless, MTUC is urging the Labour Department to take stern action on the errant employers who deliberately use unethical method to push locals away from taking the job vacancies offered.