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?
A total of RM100 million have been allocated for the six-month programme, while
some 14,000 are presently undergoing their retraining stint, said Human Resource
Minister Fong Chan Onn.
<p>He said that the programme would upgrade the language competency, interpersonal
and computer skills of the unemployed graduates to better equipped them for
the employment market.</p>
<p>“There is no reasons for graduates not being employed, they are lots more
jobs available in the country. What is causing the problem is the mismatch between
the qualifications and the expectations of the employees,” he said.</p>
<p>Fong was speaking at a press conference in Puchong, Selangor after visiting
the new British American Tobacco training centre yesterday.</p>
<p>The minister believed that the bulk of job opportunities lies with the service
sectors and with proper attitudes, they would be able to perform well.</p>
<p><b>Maternity leave</b></p>
<p>Asked to respond to an announcement on June 2 by the Prime Minister Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi that the public sector would be absorbing unemployed graduates,
Fong said that plenty of such vacancies are still available.</p>
<p>“He (Abdullah) expects the Public Service Department and all human resource
department of the other government agencies to look seriously into filling up
their vacancies as soon as possible (with unemployed graduates),” said
Fong.</p>
<p>Asked if he thinks the private sector should also grant women 60 days maternity
leave based on a recent proposal for the public sector to do so, the minister
said that matters were different in the private sector.</p>
<p>“I support (extending the proposal to the private sector). But we must
accept the reality of the private sector,” he said.</p>
<p>He explained that sometimes, employers grant 60 days maternity leave as an
incentive to retain staff, but not all employers can do the same.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com