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 Deputy Prime Minister said, however, it would take some time for the Government to study proposals for a review of salaries.
<P>“There is a general feeling particularly for the lower income group that there is justification for the Government to look into it,” he told the Malaysian media here yesterday during his weeklong visit to Saudi Arabia.</P>
<P>Cuepacs had previously asked
the Government for salary increases across the board and after the last Budget,
they had expressed disappointment that their request was not taken up.</P><P>They
have since continued to ask for it. </P><P>But Najib said that increasing salaries
across the board had huge implications because it would increase the Government’s
operating expenditure considerably. </P><P>Despite that, he said the Government
would still study the proposal. </P><P>Najib said the Government would not rush
into adopting a minimum wage policy for the country because that would only bring
the cost of doing business up and make Malaysia uncompetitive. </P><P>He was responding
to a recent call by MTUC for a minimum wage because it said this would cut down
the problem of importing foreign labour by making jobs more attractive to unemployed
graduates. </P><P>Najib said the Government would have to study its implications
of having a minimum wage. </P><P>“The crux of it is whether we will make
ourselves uncompetitive.” </P><P>On an unrelated matter, Najib said whether
Malaysia would play the role of mediator in the conflict in southern Thailand
would depend on the Thai Government. </P><P>“We have not received any formal
request yet from the Thai Government. It is up to them to decide on the modality
and whether they are prepared to hold formal talks with the various groups there,”
he said. </P><P>Najib pointed out that Malaysia had had success in helping countries
like the Philippines deal with the Mindanao problem in the south, and also Indonesia
with the Aceh issue. </P><P>“The Prime Minister has said we will accept the
Thai Government’s request for help. We will have a positive attitude in trying
to find a solution to end the conflict,” he said.</P><P><I>Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/25/nation/16972202&sec=nation</I>
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