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 yesterday the government hoped all involved, such as the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF), could set aside their differences and agree on the details of how the fund would operate. The MEF has been critical of the plan.
<P>"The MEF should understand that the fund is part of the process of reforming the labour laws.
Countries with flexible labour laws and a fund such as this have become successful.
Employers should support this fund."</P><P>Fong was responding to objections
from the corporate sector to the fund, which is similar to the Employees Provident
Fund and Socso.</P><P>On Jan 16, the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers said
the fund would "discourage efficiency and penalise good employers and employees
by having to support the inefficiencies of irresponsible firms and indifferent
workers".</P><P>The proposed fund was agreed to "in principle"
by the MTUC and MEF at a National Labour Action Council meeting last month, and
the ministry has formed a committee headed by its secretary-general Datuk Thomas
George with representatives from the two bodies.</P><P><I>Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Saturday/National/20070127090327/Article/local1_html</I>
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