The Johor government is conducting a study on the Manpower Rationalisation Plan to find out the state's real manpower needs.

State Unity and Human Resource Committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said the plan would reduce the dependence on foreign workers and would provide more jobs to the local population.

"We have started the study with two laboratories with the participation of government agencies, the stakeholders and the industry players.

"The state government is concerned with the massive recruitment of foreign workers in the manufacturing sector and will limit it.

"A list of industries which can only recruit local workers will be put out," he said after launching a skills programme for the Indian community, here today.

Via the plan, the employers would provide incentives to local workers in the form of suitable wages, facilities and welfare schemes," he added.

-- BERNAMA