Saturday, December 23, 2017

MALAYSIA:::Bosses to pay levy for foreign workers starting January

 Effective Jan 1, employers nationwide are required to pay the levy for their foreign workers.
The human resources ministry in a statement here yesterday said all employers must pay the levy for new foreign workers as well as foreign workers who have renewed their temporary employment visit pass (PLKS).

Friday, December 15, 2017

MALAYSIA:::With new tech, EPF to drop withdrawal limits

Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members aged 55 and 60 will be able to withdraw any amount from their account whenever they wish, starting January 2018.
In a report by The Star, EPF chief executive officer Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan reportedly said this new arrangement was made possible due to an upgrade in the fund’s system.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

MALAYSIA:::The impact of migrant maids in Malaysia

The inflow of the migrant workers to Malaysia is not a new or recent phenomenon as the demand for foreign maids has increased rapidly over the years.
Occasionally, there are incidents that happen. The issues of Malaysians abusing their maids more often than not appear in our news.
The media attention received by some of these abuse cases have shed light to the fact that the abusing of migrant domestic workers exist in Malaysian society.
Statistical data from 2010 shows the number of foreign workers in Malaysia has shown that the number of domestic workers coming from the region hail mainly from the surrounding regions with Indonesia leading the number with a total of 918,000 people, followed by Bangladesh (310,000 people) and Thailand with 15,000 people.
The influx of migrant workers, especially domestic workers into the country have had a positive impact.
Thousands of Malaysian women that previously were not able to leave their homes due to their families were now able to work, travel and many happened in due part to their domestic help.
Moreover, wages for migrant maids are generally lower than local maids, making it preferable for most to hire them over local domestic workers.
On the other hand, there are cases of domestic workers charged with stealing, abusing their employer's children.
Further, the outflow of the money from Malaysia will be increased because the migrant workers are from other countries and they will bring the money out of Malaysia to give to their families.
While there are positive impact of migrant domestic workers to the country and us, one must always make sure that the negative impact are negated in matters related to our children.
Of course, the domestic workers are a boon to the average housewife and the working women, but they must also beware of the negative aspects of it.

SOURCE

Friday, December 8, 2017

MTUC Sabah demands govt intervention over SFI layoffs

 The Malaysian Trades Union Congress Sabah Division is alarmed by the recent announcement by Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) to lay off 1,390 employees.
Its secretary Catherine Jikunan yesterday said MTUC Sabah was informed by its affiliate union, The Sabah Timber Industry Employees’ Union (Stieu) in Sipitang that 1,350 employees would be laid off by SFI.
She said another batch of workers who were still under probation would have their services terminated; thus the figure mentioned earlier would be higher than 1,390.
“MTUC Sabah demands that the state government urgently intervenes and solves the problems faced by the SFI workers.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

MALAYSIA::: MTUC concerned over EIS, retrenchment schemes

A trades union body today warned against using the Employment Insurance System (EIS) as an excuse to justify large-scale retrenchment.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) said it welcomed the government’s provision of RM122 million to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to implement the EIS next year.
However, it also voiced concern over some 57,000 employees whom Socso CEO Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said were expected to be retrenched.
“A total of 57,282 workers expected to be retrenched is worrying MTUC, and it does not correspond with the recent announcement of the government where our GDP is 6.2% and the economy of Malaysia is doing well,” MTUC secretary-general J Solomon said in a statement.
He also criticised the proposed payout of RM600 per month for a maximum of three months, saying the amount was too little to support one person, let alone a household.
“We are uncertain on what basis Socso suggested RM600, when even the minimum salary is RM920 for Sabah and Sarawak and RM1,000 in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
Solomon added that while MTUC welcomed the payout, it was not a gift but a reasonable payment to workers who had contributed to the system.




MALAYSIA:: This time, a trade union leader 'harassed'

A Bangladeshi trade union leader alleged that he was mistreated by the Malaysian immigration authorities at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), and was deported without showing any valid reason.
Tapan Saha, general secretary of the Textile Garments Workers' Federation of Bangladesh, flew to Malaysia on November 17 to attend the “Asian Transnational Corporation Monitoring Network 2017 Conference”, scheduled on November 17-21.

Friday, November 24, 2017

Malaysian employers cautioned: Do not terminate locals in order to hire foreign staff

 Malaysian employers have been warned against dismissing local employees in order to hire foreign workers.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Abdul Muttalib, addressing the Dewan Rakyat today, said Section 60 of the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) states that no employer can arbitrarily terminate the employment of local workers to employ foreign workers.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

MTUC: Law doesn’t prevent foreign workers becoming union members

Foreign workers can become union members but they cannot hold leadership posts, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) clarified today.
MTUC president Abdul Halim Mansor said this when brushing aside a call by former Treasury secretary-general Mohd Sheriff Kassim for foreign workers to be allowed to join trade unions.

MTUC Penang Division cannot digest the Federation Of Malaysian Manufacters Penang chairman's statement that some factories lost millions because workers skipped a day of work.

MTUC Penang Division cannot digest the Federation Of Malaysian Manufacters Penang chairman's statement that some factories lost millions because workers skipped a day of work.

It is greatly disturbing that the FMM has elected to state that workers skipped a day of work when the reality is that the workers were constrained from reporting to work as a result of the unprecedented effect of nature.

To quantify losses to direct inability of workers to report to work on account of circumstances beyond their control is devoid of compassion and corporate social responsibility.

The stand taken by FMM is but a reflection of the employers only concern i.e. the bottom line! It is down right disgusting that the FMM  has decided to issue such a statement even when  people are coming to terms with the tragedy that has struck them!

There have been deaths and workers homes destroyed but FMM'S only concern is but losses to the manufactures. MTUC Penang Division wishes to remind the FMM that it is the same workers who have loyally toiled for their members at all times. But it is no gain saying that employers, as they are, easily forget the contributions of the working class in their quest for profits!

MTUC Penang Division reminds employers that the entire nation is shocked by the extent of this calamity and everyone is consolidating their efforts to address the situation. We, therefore, believe that organisations like FMM ought to refrain from making unwarranted statements that are devoid of compassion.

In conclusion MTUC Penang Division calls upon all employers to grant paid leave of absence to employees who are affected by the massive floods least they be called inconsiderate or, worst, inhumane!

Press release by:

K.Veeriah
Secretary
MTUC Penang Division
7.11.2017

Sunday, October 29, 2017

MTUC tells private firms not to resist 90 days maternity leave / MTUC gesa swasta laksana syor cuti bersalin 90 hari

 The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has told employers not to be defiant against Putrajaya’s proposal for women workers in the private sector to be granted 90 days maternity leave.
MTUC secretary-general J Solomon said companies should not be selective and “think primitively” on the issue of workers’ welfare.
“Workers also contribute to our GDP (gross domestic product),” he said.
“MTUC sees no reason for bosses to resist giving 90 days leave for mothers,” he told FMT
He said certain firms were already giving maternity leave of between six months and a year, with some offering full salary payment, and others giving partial payment and non-payment options.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Form tripartite taskforce to monitor worker safety, MTUC tells Penang

MTUC Penang Div. Press Release

Two (2) tragedies within a short span of time claiming multiple lives of workers is shocking news! MTUC Penang Division is of the view that both the said incidents i.e. the Tanjung Bungah construction site loss of lives and the road accident deaths along the North South highway this morning must be investigated in a holistic and comprehensive manner. No corners should be left unturned nor no issues swept under the carpet.

The lives lost cannot be brought back but those responsible for their untimely and tragic deaths must be held accountable. On this score we welcome the Penang State government's decision to set-up a Commission of Inquiry. We, however, call upon the state to appoint non-partisan, competent and aptly qualified people as members of the said commission.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

MTUC slams bosses’ stand on workers’ insurance


Its president Abdul Halim Mansor says it never agreed that payouts were only for workers who did not receive termination benefits.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has denied ever agreeing to the request by employers that only workers who do not receive termination or retrenchment benefits will receive payments from the Employment Insurance System (EIS).
Commenting on the statement by the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) that the human resources minister had given a “misleading statement” over the matter, MTUC president Abdul Halim Mansor said the only thing agreed in principle by the employee’s representative in the meeting with Second Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani on Aug 10 was the reduction in the contribution rate from 0.5% to 0.2%.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Applications From Employers Who Failed To Provide Standard Accommodation Rejected - JTKSM

About 30 per cent of the 3,209 applications for foreign workers submitted by employers have been rejected this year for failure to comply with the minimum standard guideline for worker’s accommodation,” said Peninsular Malaysia Manpower Department (JTKSM) deputy director (Operations) Wan Zulkifli Wan Setapa.
He said compliance with the guideline was a prerequisite for the intake of foreign workers, which included providing accommodation that is approved by the local authorities and in a safe environment while male and female workers must also be housed in separate dorms.
"The issue of worker’s accommodation should not be taken lightly by employers as we have received complaints from foreign workers, especially those who live in wooden huts at construction sites and filthy environment,” he said in a press conference held in conjunction with an enforcement operation on restaurants in Putrajaya here today.
He said a large number of employers failed to comply with the minimum standard for worker accommodation compared with other offences, resulting in their application rejected.
Wan Zulkifli said employers who failed to comply with conditions set would be blacklisted for future applications.
He said the department had conducted 25,680 enforcement operations to ensure foreign workers enjoy the rights and benefits set by the government.

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Debate workers’ issues before GE


The political climate in the country is getting more vibrant by the day, in anticipation of the upcoming general election. Umno and its junior allies that form Barisan Nasional, the coalition that has ruled the country since independence, is feeling the heat of the many scandals that confront the party, in particular its leader, Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The main opposition parties, in forming Pakatan Harapan, are hoping to unseat the government and seem to have the wind behind them. That being said, it will still be a tall order to overcome a ruling party that has the entire government machinery behind it.
The middle class of the country, the poor and the workers, are being increasingly challenged on an economic scale. The rising cost of living, the growing income and wealth gap, and the negative impact on real income levels have badly affected common people in Malaysia. This situation is independent of political alliances and ideologies. It impacts everyone, regardless of which political party they support.
The indicators that are used by the government to measure the cost of living are misleading. Ask any common Malaysian, and they will tell you that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as well as inflation figures are no reflection of reality. In fact, it distorts reality and the working poor are the ones who feel it the most.

With the general election looming, the various political parties should agree to a debate to specifically discuss matters concerning workers. The parties should be willing to take a position on the following:

  1. The rising cost of living and how this will be dealt with going forward;
  2. The management of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the workers’ participation in the management of EPF affairs;
  3. Wages – the sufficiency of the current minimum wage levels and the minimum wage mechanism;
  4. The rights of trade unions to operate as free trade unions, without any undue interference by government agencies that stifle the growth of unions and the rights of their members to proper representation, individually and collectively. This would have to include public sector trade unions;
  5. The state of labour legislation in the country and its adequacy;
  6. Bilateral and multilateral trade pacts and their position where it concerns labour issues;
  7. Job creation and the strategies that will be applied in that regard, and
  8. Foreign workers – their rights; dealing with the large number of undocumented foreign workers and their exploitation by employers, and how the impact on the depression of wages will be dealt with.

Thursday, September 14, 2017


Image result for epf
MTUC Penang Division is gravelly disturbed with our Prime Minister's statement that the EPF would be in a position to invest in the US. He is quoted to have said that the investments could be in the billions. 

MTUC is of the opinion that any investment of the hard earned money of the Malaysian workers ought to be prudently invested to ensure that there is the best returns on investment. Unless that is ensured there is a real possibility that we the contributors to our old age provident fund would stand to be losers. Given the fact that a huge portion of our EPF funds are now tight up with government bonds we are truly concerned if such investment in the US economy is wise. MTUC Penang Division is wondering if the prime minister is submitting to geopolitical pressures from the US administration. Whatever the case maybe it is our position that EPF's funds should only be expanded with the consent of it's stake holders i.e. the workers for whom the fund is intended in their retirement years. 

On this score MTUC Penang Division calls upon the relevant investment authorities of EPF to state if the said undertaking by our prime minister was discussed and approved by them or was made otherwise. In conclusion MTUC Penang Division calls upon the EPF not to be cowed by the higher powers but to act in an indepent, transparent and accountable manner giving the utmost priority to the well being of its contributors.

Bro. K. Veeriah
Secretary
MTUC Bahagian Pulau Pinang
d/a No 2965, Jalan Prai
Taman Indrawasih
13600 Prai
Penang
H/P No: 016-4184520
Email: kveeriah@hotmail.com

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

SEA Games holiday manageable, say economists, unions

SEA Games holiday manageable, say economists, unions



The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) meanwhile said that it all boils down to how a company manages its resources and maintains its production value.
 Employees should not get recalled on public holidays and be made to work like robots.
MTUC president Halim Mansor said employers should recognise that public holidays and annual leave are for employees to rest and recharge.
They should not get recalled on public holidays and be made to work like robots, he said.
“For example, there are many companies nowadays that use advanced automated technology for their day-to-day operations. That should help not disrupt their overall productivity.
“We have to work smart. Not work hard all the time,”

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

EIS concept – the struggle of the MTUC since 1997

The Employment Insurance System (EIS) looks set to be on track for implementation now that stakeholders are “agree­able” to the lowering of the percentage of contribution.
Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) president Abdul Halim Mansor said during a recent tripartite meeting with the Government and stakeholders, the rate was agreed to be brought down to 0.2% each for employers and employees.

Malaysia's Migrant Money Trail

FOREIGN WORKERS ARE FLOODING MALAYSIA BY THE MILLIONS…BUT WHO ACTUALLY MAKES MONEY OUT OF IT?


Thursday, July 20, 2017

Youth Migration: Facts and Figures

Image result for Youth Migration: Facts and Figures

PDF:::http://www.globalmigrationgroup.org/system/files/4._Chapter_1.pdf

#2017LMA ITC / ILO TURIN

Migrant Workers Resource Centre - MRC MTUC Malaysia
https://web.facebook.com/pg/MigrantResourceCentreMRC/photos/?ref=page_internal

Migration and Youth: Challenges and Opportunities

Image result for Migration and Youth: Challenges and Opportunities
http://www.globalmigrationgroup.org/migrationandyouth

#2017LMA ITC / ILO TURIN

Migrant Workers Resource Centre - MRC MTUC Malaysia
https://web.facebook.com/pg/MigrantResourceCentreMRC/photos/?ref=page_internal

A region without borders? Policy frameworks for regional labour migration towards South Africa

Image result for A region without borders? Policy frameworks for regional labour migration towards South Africa

PDF:::http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---migrant/documents/publication/wcms_379446.pdf

#2017 LMA ITC / ILO TURIN

Migrant Workers Resource Centre - MRC MTUC Malaysia
https://web.facebook.com/pg/MigrantResourceCentreMRC/photos/?ref=page_internal

Tripartite Action for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers in the ASEAN Region (ASEAN TRIANGLE project)

The Project aims to significantly reduce the exploitation of labour migrants in the region through increased legal and safe migration and improved labour protection.

http://www.ilo.org/asia/projects/WCMS_413795/lang--en/index.htm

PDF::: http://www.ilo.org/asia/projects/WCMS_413795/lang--en/index.htm

#2017LMA ITC / ILO TURIN


Migrant Workers Resource Centre - MRC MTUC Malaysia
https://web.facebook.com/pg/MigrantResourceCentreMRC/photos/?ref=page_internal