Dilema majikan dalam isu menggaji pekerja tempatan atau pekerja asing di Malaysia: Perspektif majikan (Employer’s dilemma on the issues of hiring foreign workers or local workers in Malaysia: Employer’s perspective)

Abstract

Sikap majikan yang cenderung menggaji pekerja asing menimbulkan perdebatan dalam kalangan masyarakat. Terdapat sesetengah pihak mendakwa bahawa majikan tidak sepatutnya menggaji pekerja asing kerana pekerjaan yang ditawarkan mampu dikerjakan rakyat tempatan. Manakala, sesetengah pihak pula mendakwa bahawa majikan perlu menggaji pekerja asing disebabkan oleh faktor keengganan rakyat tempatan untuk terlibat dalam sektor pekerjaan 3D (Dirty, Dangerous, Difficult). Oleh demikian, artikel ini dijalankan bertujuan bagi meneroka permasalahan yang wujud dalam kalangan majikan mengenai isu menggaji pekerja. Selain itu, kajian turut meneliti tentang faktor kecenderungan penggajian pekerja asing berbanding pekerja tempatan dalam kalangan majikan. Bagi mencapai objektif kajian ini, kaedah kualitatif berbentuk temu bual secara mendalam digunakan melibatkan 10 orang pegawai yang terlibat dalam menguruskan penggajian pekerja asing. Hasil temu bual mendapati bahawa komitmen yang tinggi, kadar upah yang berpatutan, sikap tidak memilih pekerjaan dan taraf pendidikan yang rendah dalam kalangan pekerja asing menjadi faktor utama pihak majikan gemar menggaji pekerja asing berbanding pekerja tempatan. Kesimpulannya, pekerja asing diperlukan bagi membantu merancakkan ekonomi negara, namun penggajian pekerja asing yang tidak terkawal boleh memberi impak negatif bukan sahaja terhadap masyarakat malah mengancam keselamatan negara.

Kata Kunci: faktor kecenderungan, majikan, pekerja asing, pekerja tempatan, permasalahan, sektor pekerjaan 3D

The attitudes of employers who tend to hire foreign workers cause debate among the public. Some claim that employers should not hire foreign workers because the jobs offered can be done by locals. On the other hand, some claim that employers need to hire foreign workers because of the reluctance of local people to engage in the 3D sector (Dirty, Dangerous, Difficult). Therefore, this article is intended to explore the issues that arise among employers regarding the issue of hiring. In addition, the study also examined the factors of the tendency to employ foreign workers compared to local workers among employers. To achieve the objective of this study, in-depth qualitative interviewing method was used involving 10 officers involved in managing the employment of foreign workers. The results of the interviews showed that high commitment, reasonable wage rates, not choosing a job, and low educational attainment among foreign workers were a major factor for employers favoring foreign workers compared to local workers. In conclusion, foreign workers are needed to help boost the country's economy, but the employment of uncontrolled foreign workers can negatively impact not only on society but also on national security.

Keywords: factors of the tendency, employers, foreign workers, locals workers, issues, 3D sector