THE manufacturing industry in Perak is in dire need of foreign workers as more investors are pouring into the state, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Perak branch chairman Gan Tack Kong said.

Gan said this was because local workers were not interested in factory jobs.

“If the factories do not have enough workers, they will be forced to shut down,” he told reporters during a press conference in Ipoh after a visit by adviser to the Perak Mentri Besar on Indian affairs, Datuk S. Veerasingam on Thursday.

“We understand that the government is trying to reduce the number of foreign workers.

“It has already succeeded in cutting down the number of foreign workers from 2.1 million to 1.8 million in the country,” said Gan, who is also Perak Entrepreneur and Skills Development Centre (PESDC) chairman.

He added that the foreign workers were important in helping Perak to be a developed state like Penang and Selangor.

During his visit, Veerasingam said Form Five students upon leaving school should take up vocational training courses at the PESDC so they could get more attractive pay when they graduate.

He added that students would be well equipped with skills and knowledge on ope-rating machines and maintenance at factories.

Veerasingam noted that students taking up courses at the centre would also be getting an allowance.