Projecting a requirement of 100,000 foreign workers, a Malaysian Indian trade body wants a dialogue with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak over the prevailing shortage of foreign labour in the country.

Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce of Industry (Maicci) president K.K. Eswaran said various trade associations had sought the chamber's help to resolve their labour shortage.

'We have compiled a memorandum detailing the needs of the various associations to present to Najib,' Eswaran said.

Eswaran said the associations needed more than 100,000 foreign workers in various sectors, including Indian restaurants, second-hand metal shops, construction, jewellery outlets, mini-markets and provision shops.

'The associations were unsuccessful in their efforts to recruit locals,' The Star quoted him as saying Sunday.

Eswaran said they were also proposing that each trade association be allowed to act as the recruiting agent for its members.

'In doing so, foreign workers can be monitored by the association and members will be accountable for any wrongdoing by the foreign workers.'

Malaysian Indian Metal Traders and Recyclers Association (Mimta) president P. Krishnamurthy said it needed 15,000 general workers as the locals were not prepared for the tedious work.

'They perceive it as low in status and involved working in an unhealthy work environment,' he said.

Krishnamurthy said the shortage could be resolved if the government extended the existing permits or allowed the companies replacements for the foreign workers who had returned to their countries.

Malaysia is home to nearly two million ethnic Indians who settled here during the British era.

The government has during the global recession tightened rules on the intake of foreign workers to fight unemployment among the locals.