Labour Law To Be Amended In Line With Changing Time. Better Late Than Never.
The Employment Act 1955 will be amended by end of this year to make it more relevant to the present globalised industrial relations and labour market competition, Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn said.
He said a review on the labour law following dialogues with representatives of employers and employees had already been carried out.
"We have had dialogues with the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) on major issues concerning the labour and industrial relations scenario in the country.
"We are taking views from both employees and employers in making the amendments which can be put in place before end of this year," he said.
**** About time Prof Fong. While the employers crib that the labour laws are tilted towards the workers, it is common knowledge that it is the poor worker who more often than not gets the short end of the stick. Any review of the law and amendment must take into serious consideration the bread and butter issues of the employees.
Also to be noted is the half past six attitude of the state labour departments. Whenever problems by workers are brought to their notice, a perfunctory 'inspection' is occasionally done, as if to satisfy the complainant that something will happen. Most often nothing does and the poor employee is left to his own devices. Many are the rumours that money has changed hands between employer and labour department officers but lack of evidence precludes any protests on the part of the employee.
Such abuses cannot be controlled by legislation or remedied by amendments. There has to be an efficient monitoring mechanism in place manned by honest officers. Where we are going to find such honest men and women I have no idea. Perhaps Prof Fong Chan Onn could enlighten us.
He said a review on the labour law following dialogues with representatives of employers and employees had already been carried out.
"We have had dialogues with the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) on major issues concerning the labour and industrial relations scenario in the country.
"We are taking views from both employees and employers in making the amendments which can be put in place before end of this year," he said.
**** About time Prof Fong. While the employers crib that the labour laws are tilted towards the workers, it is common knowledge that it is the poor worker who more often than not gets the short end of the stick. Any review of the law and amendment must take into serious consideration the bread and butter issues of the employees.
Also to be noted is the half past six attitude of the state labour departments. Whenever problems by workers are brought to their notice, a perfunctory 'inspection' is occasionally done, as if to satisfy the complainant that something will happen. Most often nothing does and the poor employee is left to his own devices. Many are the rumours that money has changed hands between employer and labour department officers but lack of evidence precludes any protests on the part of the employee.
Such abuses cannot be controlled by legislation or remedied by amendments. There has to be an efficient monitoring mechanism in place manned by honest officers. Where we are going to find such honest men and women I have no idea. Perhaps Prof Fong Chan Onn could enlighten us.
posted by The Malaysian. at 8/07/2006 06:39:00 PM
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