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?
Deputy minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Bakar said that although the accident rate
was dropping, the construction sector still recorded the highest number of accidents.
<p>"Healthy employees have high motivation and are productive. If workers
are neglected, the employers will lose in terms of faulty products, repairs
to machines and premises, operation stoppage, training new employees, fines
and medical expenses," he said when opening the Occupational Safety and
Health Seminar 2005 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Monday.</p>
<p>Abdul Rahman said the occupational accident rate had dropped from 16 cases
for every 1,000 employees in 1994 to 6.9 cases for 1,000 employees last year.</p>
<p>The rate in the developed country is four cases for every 1,000 employees.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, a supplier of employee safety equipment and gear told Bernama that
most employers did not know that the cost of enhancing safety at their premises
was not that expensive.</p>
<p>General manager of Satang Jaya Sdn Bhd, Lt Kol (R) Ahmad Husaini Zakwan Hassan
Basri said many companies were supplying safety equipment such as fire extinguishers
and fire-proof outfits, which were not as expensive as the imported ones.</p>
<p>Ahmad who had been involved in the production and maintenance of safety equipment
for 15 years said that interest in employees’ safety was more focused on the
defence and security sector such as the army and police.– BERNAMA
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