PEOPLE'S SERVICE COUNTER TO BE EXTENDED NATIONWIDE, SAYS KULA SEGARAN

New Straits Times (Online) : 15/07/2018

IPOH: The People’s Service Counter implemented by the Ministry of Human Resources will be extended nationwide, said its Minister M. Kulasegaran.

He said the programme which was started in Perak on July 7 aims at bringing the departments and agencies under the ministry such as the Social Security Organisation (Socso), Labour Department and Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) closer to the local community.

Kulasegaran, who is also Ipoh Barat MP said the opening of the temporary counter in the public market would make it easier for the local community to report various complaints and to seek employment insurance claims and other services provided.

“We’re not done yet in Perak, it may take three months to complete the exercise in all the public markets in the state and after that we will go to another state.

“We have received positive feedback from the public regarding the opening of the counter,” he told reporters after opening the counter at the Bercham Public Market here today. - Bernama

NEW MINIMUM WAGE TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN 2 MONTHS: KULA SEGARAN

New Straits Times (Online): 20/07/2018

KUALA LUMPUR: The minimum wage order for workers is expected to be gazetted within two months, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Human Resources Minister M. Kulagesaran said the National Wage Consultative Council (MPGN) had concluded its study on the matter and would submit its findings to the government soon.

“If there is no hindrance, the new minimum wage order will be gazetted in one or two months,” he said in reply to a question by Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (BN-UMNO Beaufort).

Kulasegaran said the minimum wage of RM1,500 would be standardised nationwide in line with the government’s 100 days’ 10 promises.

He said the minimum wage would be reviewed every two years.

He hoped that the implementation of the new rate, which would be carried out in stages, would reach the targeted RM1,500 by the end of Pakatan Harapan’s first administration term.

“Various factors would be taken into consideration when reviewing the minimum wage order. They include the socio-economy factor like the consumer price index, productivity growth rate, employers’ capability in salary payment, unemployment rate, poverty threshold income.

“Apart from that, views from all quarters through a tactful approach that balances the interests of employers, workers and the government will also be put into consideration,” he said.

Kulasegaran said the implementation of minimum wage would not differentiate workers based on their nationalities and the government’s view on both the local and foreign workforce would be based on several aspects including the Equal Remuneration Convention (No 100).

“It states that the minimum wage policies must not discriminate workers based on their nationalities.

“In addition, Section 60L of the Employment Act 1955; Section 118B of the Sabah Labour Ordinance; as well as the Sarawak Labour Ordinance prohibits any form of discrimination on the local and foreign workers,” he said.

Kulasegaran said the enforcement of the minimum wage order for private sector workers would incur additional cost.

Thus, he said, the government would ensure that it would be carried out with tact and done in tandem with the government’s efforts in improving the country’s financial position.

711 FATAL ACCIDENTS AT WORKPLACE LAST YEAR

Bernama (Online) : 11/07/2018 

RAWANG: A total of 711 fatal accident cases were recorded at the workplace throughout the country last year.

Deputy Minister of Human Resources Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the record from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) also showed an increase in the number compared to 2016 which totalled 688 cases.

“In 2017, there was an average of 116 workplace accident cases per day equivalent to 42,513 cases a year,” he said while launching the Occupational Safety and Health Week 2018 at the Perodua Training Centre here yesterday.

Mahfuz said both employers and employees should work together in identifying hazards at the workplace by conducting effective risk analyses and controls.

He said the government through DOSH also sought to improve enforcement and safety monitoring at the workplace.

“Last year alone, DOSH conducted 269,877 inspections on workplaces and machinery.

“From those inspections, a total of 23,006 notices and 1,028 compounds were issued while 324 cases were charged in court,” he said. —  Bernama