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?
"The fund would send the nation down the slippery road of a welfare
state with a high tax regime," the federation said in a statement.
<P>Last
week, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn was reported as saying
that the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) and Malaysian Trades Union Congress
(MTUC) had agreed in principle to the setting up of the fund jointly contributed
by employees and employers.</P><P>According to the FMM, the scheme penalises good
employers and employees by forcing them to support or pay for the inefficiencies
of irresponsible firms and indifferent workers.</P><P>"The scheme discourages
the inculcation of a healthy corporate culture and positive work attitude.</P><P>"As
stakeholders, employees, management, shareholders and suppliers jointly contribute
towards the success and competitiveness of the company.</P><P>"Setting up
the fund would remove this ‘stakeholder’ bond from workers, leading to indifference
towards productivity and lack of concern for the company’s well-being."</P><P>The
FMM said establishing the scheme through legislation would remove the freedom
of choice and discourage efficiency in management as well as financial prudence.</P><P>"Contribution
to the scheme means less take-home pay for employees and additional overheads
to a company.</P><P>"Even worse, the scheme could be used as a basis for
the setting up of a separate but similar sinking fund in the company.</P><P>"Ultimately,
the scheme would increase the cost of doing business and affects investors’ confidence,"
it added.</P><P>The FMM said it was disappointed that such an important proposal
was not discussed with all the stakeholders.</P><P>It said that it was also highlighted
that the scheme was part of general reform to the labour laws. "While FMM
welcomes the government’s initiative to review the labour laws, we would like
to state categorically that the proposed scheme should not be as an ‘exchange’
for allowing the amendments.</P><P>"The labour laws, which were drawn up
during a different stage of the nation’s development need to be reviewed to enhance
Malaysia’s competitiveness to meet globalisation and increasing competition and
increase productivity.</P><P>"More importantly, the amendments to the labour
laws to date have not placed workers in a worse off position but provided a more
balanced and equitable legislation.</P><P>"The proposed scheme, on the other
hand, is not fair to employers and employees alike who are diligent and prudent,
and nullifies efforts to enhance the nation’s competitiveness and productivity,"
it said. — BERNAMA</P><P><I>Source: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=240124</I>
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com