Hands on the flight deck: Sim (right) testing out the controls of a drone on exhibit at a booth during the MyWIRA Veterans Programme and the Perlis state-level Talent Development Programme launch at the Kangar Industrial Training Institute. — Bernama
KANGAR: Strict enforcement of labour laws has ensured that 1.5 million workers have received an additional 20% in social security benefits, says Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.
This was among the benefits derived from the ministry’s commitment to ensuring safety at the workplace and its efforts to improve the welfare, skills and productivity of workers in the country, he said.
For this purpose, he said the ministry has enforced eight labour laws in Malaysia, including laws related to the Social Security Organisation (Socso), and fully implemented the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Sim said Socso-related laws have enabled 1.5 million workers in the country to receive an additional 20% in Socso benefits, while about 100 improvements under the Occupational Safety and Health Act have been introduced.
“I want every worker to be able to go to work at a conducive workplace each morning, work with dignity, receive a fair salary, benefits and respectable perks, and at the end of each workday, return home safely to be with their loved ones,” he said in his speech during a working visit and the launch of the Veteran MyWira Programme as well as the state-level Talent Development Programme at the Industrial Training Institute here yesterday.
“This is what we have been working on for the past 10 months, to enable our workers to receive greater recognition and appreciation,” he said, reported Bernama.
Veteran MyWira, a career continuation programme, was launched on Jan 22. It is the result of a collaboration between the ministry and the Defence Ministry, led by agencies under the two ministries, namely TalentCorp and the Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (Perhebat) respectively, while the Talent Development Programme is implemented by HRD Corp.
Sim also said he would be tabling new legislation next month to safeguard the welfare of gig economy workers, such as e-hailing and p-hailing drivers.
“These workers are not protected under the existing Act because they are not defined as employees. Therefore, we are introducing new legislation that is aligned with countries like Singapore, the United States and Australia.
“This is a step towards good governance, to grant rights to our workers. That is what we have been working on over the past eight to 10 months, to give dignity and humanity to our workforce,” he said.
At the same time, he urged ministry staff in Perlis to go to the ground, engage with workers, listen to them, observe their challenges firsthand, and do their best to help resolve issues.
