This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on January 16 - 22, 2017.

HERE is our tongue-in-cheek take on the issue.

There are too many illegal foreign workers! Can’t we just build a ‘wall’ to keep them out?

If you were to build a 30ft wall, you will only create a market for 31ft ladders. Even if it is not a literal wall, it is difficult to keep illegal immigrants out if there is a demand for them. There are at least four million foreign workers in the country, and bringing them in is big business.

Sure, immigration and border control can be tightened. But as long as there is demand, there will be people finding a way to get workers in — over, under or through a wall.

What if we just ban foreign workers altogether, just like the developed countries? They pay well for 3D (dirty, difficult and dangerous) work. Some Malaysians even go abroad to do this work. Why can’t we do the same here?

Do you want your children to grow up to be garbage collectors or toilet cleaners? Don’t worry, in a high-income nation, we can have garbage collectors with high incomes too.

It is easy to imagine someone else doing the 3D jobs. But somebody’s children will have to do them. Why not yours? On that note, it may be a good idea to have four, or maybe five, children. After all, when the five million or so foreign workers leave, there will be no shortage of 3D jobs.

But in all seriousness, foreign labour is here to stay. We need to ensure that the right number of them are doing the right jobs. That way, Malaysians can focus on moving up the value chain, doing productive and rewarding work.

What if employers are forced to increase wages? Wouldn’t that entice Malaysians to take up 3D jobs?

Everyone has a price. If paid enough, anyone will do almost anything. Unfortunately, businesses still have to sell goods and services, and consumers may not be so eager to pay more.

Our oil palm plantations are an excellent example. Sure, if the industry were to pay workers RM10,000 a month, there would not be a shortage of local workers. But palm oil produced by overpaid Malaysians is indistinguishable from the same commodity produced elsewhere.

Ideally, higher wages should commensurate with higher productivity or skill — either to make more of a certain product or to make the product better. Unfortunately, when it comes to some industries, it is difficult to improve  productivity with automation.

Why do we allow illegal foreign workers to become legal? They are breaking the law! We should deport all of them. In fact, can’t we punish them to ensure that they don’t come back?

What are we going to do? Fine them? They don’t have money, and that is why they are here. Should we spank them instead? Clearly, it would have to be a punishment that is worse than being an illegal foreign worker in Malaysia.

Even if there were such a punishment that is humane, catching and deporting illegals will be very costly.

It is counter-intuitive, but it makes more sense to legalise the workers (those fit to work here) and match them with employers who are more than willing to take them. If anyone should be punished, it should be the middlemen who exploit them and the system to fatten their own wallets. Employers who ill-treat workers and knowingly break the law for profit should also pay a hefty price.

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