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 and 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 had 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 the globalised world. These two countries responded well to the
new working environment. </p>
<p>“Therefore, 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 to the current changes in the market,” he told
reporters after launching the Employment Contract Law conference at a hotel
here on Monday. </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>Dr Fong said discussions on the matter would continue with MEF and MTUC through
a special committee headed by the ministry’s secretary-general. </p>
<p>He said the ministry had also received feedback from multinational enterprises
citing that the labour laws and conditions in the country were a little bit
too rigid. </p>
<p>He added that in order to continue to attract foreign and domestic investment,
it was important for the ministry to take into account the observation, and
make further improvements. </p>
<p>“For example, they feel the resolutions of labour disputes take a long
time once in the Industrial and Civil courts. </p>
<p>“They would like to see the disputes settled fast and amicably, and not
dragged on forever,” he said, adding that the ministry was looking into the
matter. </p>
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com