Published: Thursday November 5, 2009 MYT 1:35:00 PM
Updated: Thursday November 5, 2009 MYT 1:36:40 PM
Parliament: Face-off over foreign workers’ rights
By ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN
KUALA LUMPUR: Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam accused N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) of “playing to the galleryfor by highlighting the need to improve protection for foreign workers.
Gobalakrishnan had asked about the ministry’s efforts when it came to the increasing number of reports of foreign workers being abused or assaulted by their Malaysian employers.
“Recently, a foreign worker had two of his teeth broken by his employer, while we hear of other cases where foreign workers were beaten up.
“The Government should allow foreign workers to form their own associations so that they can protect themselves,” he added.
Subramaniam said the Government was more aware of the issues affecting foreign workers than the PKR MP.
“First you demand associations for foreign workers, next I’m sure you will ask that they be allowed to form their own political parties,” he added.
Subramaniam said local and foreign workers are protected under the Workers Act 1955, in which they were given contractual benefits such as wages, working hours, holidays, termination notices and workplace insurance.
He said that in the case of foreign workers, his ministry conducts checks on workplaces which employ foreign workers, while the workers can complains at 80 labour offices throughout the country.
Subramaniam said the rights of foreign workers are protected under the law through various acts such as the Workmen’s Compensation Act 1952, the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and the Factories and Machinery Act 1967.
To a supplementary question from Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique (BN-Tenggara) on action against agents who fail to secure employment for legal foreign workers, Subramaniam said these employment agents should first confirm that there are places for the workers.
“Agreements must be made at the source country of the foreign workers before they can come here. We can cancel the licences of unscrupulous agents,” he added.
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