BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – More than 5,000 jobs currently held by foreign workers could be filled by locals in the coming years, according to the Second Minister of Finance and Economy.
Speaking at the Legislative Council on Monday, Dato Dr Hj Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah said the Manpower Industry Steering Committee, which oversees foreign work permits, has projected that a significant number of these positions could transition to local workers.
Between 2023 and 2024, the Manpower Planning Office conducted eight workforce forecasting and data-sharing sessions with over 300 private sector companies. These sessions, the minister said, have been instrumental in identifying the skills, qualifications, and workforce numbers needed to meet industry demands.
Industry feedback underscored the rising demand for skilled workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, as well as in the healthcare sector.
There is also a strong focus on equipping school leavers and graduates with critical thinking skills, particularly in analytical and systems thinking.
Dato Amin was responding to a question from Legislative Council member Salleh Bostaman, who asked whether workforce planning takes into account the estimated 75,000 foreign workers in the sultanate.
Although the minister did not elaborate on which sectors could be localised, the majority of foreign workers in Brunei are employed in the construction, retail, and manufacturing sectors.