Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said the ministry hoped
to make the amendments in six months, adding that talks were ongoing.
<p>Dr Fong said there was a need to make changes to the labour legislations in
order to allow employers to adjust to the size of the workforce in accordance
with the market place, to woo foreign investors. </p>
<p>“Although it is necessary to have a comfortable and responsive market,
the ministry also needs to create a safety net for retrenched workers. </p>
<p>“I sent my officers to Britain and Australia to examine the changes made
to their labour legislations which are more flexible and responsive to the needs
of a globalised world. </p>
<p>“The ministry, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) and the Malaysian
Trade Union Congress (MTUC) are now discussing on how to make the Act more flexible
to suit the current changes in the market,” he told reporters after launching
the Employment Contract Law conference at a hotel here yesterday. </p>
<p>The two-day conference was organised by M2 Asia Sdn Bhd to look at the employment
law contract that governs the current employment relationship. </p>
<p>He said the ministry had also received feedback from multinational enterprises
that the labour laws and conditions in the country were a little too rigid.
</p>
<p>“For example, they feel the resolutions of labour disputes take a long
time once in the Industrial and Civil courts, and would like to see them settled
fast.”
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com