SARIKEI: Job seekers from the state are advised to double-check with the Labour Department before they take up jobs in other countries.In giving this advice, State Labour director Mohd Zubir Mohd Basri said most of the jobs offered by agencies in foreign countries were not as lucrative as advertised in the newspapers.

The State Labour Department had received such complaints made by Sarawkians who had taken up jobs opportunities in Singapore, he said during a press conference after the official launch of a ‘Job Placement Programme’ here yesterday.

According to him, before they went to Singapore, the workers were promised certain jobs, salaries and other benefits, but when they arrived in the republic, not only the jobs were different, the salaries were also far less.

Worst of all, their passports were retained by either their agents or employers, he said.

According to Zubir, the state Labour Department had received a total of 347 complaints from Sarawakians working in Singapore this year.

“It is a cause of great concern to us as the figure is the highest recorded by any state in Malaysia.

“Nationwide, there are a total of 860 such complaints including 323 recorded by our Sabah counterpart,” he said.

To address the problem, he said, the State Labour Department had set up Pusat Pengurusan Pekerja Malaysia Luar Negara to co-ordinate the travelling arrangement of the workers overseas.

Among those present were Jemoreng assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie who came to officiate at the ceremony, District Officer Abang Mohd Porkan Abang Budiman, Divisional Labour Officer Rahman Masaat and a representative of Sarikei Resident, Tuah Suni.