Saturday, December 15, 2018

DEDUCTION OF 20% WAGES OF MIGRANTVWORKERS

PRESS RELEASE BY MTUC PENANG DIVISION - DEDUCTION OF 20% WAGES OF MIGRANTVWORKERS

MTUC Penang Division is shocked at the Human Resources Minister's proposal to deduction/withhold 20% of migrant workers' wages. His justification that it will serve the objective of preventing migrant from fleeing from their employers is even more shocking!

The Minister, obviously, has taken a simplistic approach to the issue. What that really needs to be
asked is this:-

 Why are migrant workers absconding form their employers?

 Is it beacasue of low wages or is it because of unjust working conditions?

Or are there other legitimate reasons?

What the Minister ought to do is to investigate the underlying causes for migrant workers leaving their employers.Taking an easy way out can never be the answer. It would, thus, be appropriate for the Minister to take a holistic approach to the issues confronting migrant workers. A piece meal approach would never serve the higher objective to understanding the issues confronting migrant workers.

These fundamental issues aside the Minister ought to have taken advice if the said 20% deduction is permissible in law. To the best of our knowledge Section 24 of the Employment Act 1955 does not permit such a deduction. His suggestion, to park such deductions with SOCSO, raises the question of whether there exist such provision under the Social Security Act to do so?

The Minister, citing South Korea and Japan as a point of reference leads to another question i.e. whether the Honourable Minister is prepared to adopt the labour standards, including wages, that such countries have put in place for not only their wokers but also migrants?

As we have suggested we implore upon the Honourable Minister to approach the issue with consideration to the whole spectrum of issues involving not only migrant workers but Malaysians as well.

K.VEERIAH
Secretary
MTUC Penang Division
016 4184520
Email kveeriah@hotmail.com
15.12.2018