KUALA LUMPUR: Human Resources minister M. Kulasegaran today clarified that the Ministry’s proposal that employers deduct 20% of foreign workers’ basic salaries for Socso was just a suggestion, and it will guarantee some form of security for the workers.
He spoke chairing the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) meeting today at Parliament and clarified that the deduction was to provide some form of savings for foreign workers when they eventually decide to return home.
“It’s just a suggestion we’re looking at, it’s a win win situation for all as most of these workers belong to the to the B40 group and we want to ensure that they have something to take back,“ he said.
He said that its a form of forced savings and this suggestions need approval from all levels including technical committees within his ministry and then cabinet and parliament.
“It is a form of forced savings for the employee, and also a check and balance system for employers, as we are able to see whether or not they make their contributions in real time,“ he said.
He said that the committee will report their findings to his ministry on Jan 29.
Earlier today, Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah called the move by the ministry “unfair” said that the proposal would affect foreign workers in the country as they do not earn much to begin with.
“This proposal is unfair to them as a further 20% deduction would surely severely affect their ability to survive in this country,“ she said.
She also said that there is no justice for employers who mistreat their employees and use methods such as withholding salaries.
“Did the Ministry also account for those foreign workers who are mistreated by their employers? Withholding their salaries will give these employers more power over foreign workers who are victims of abuse,“ she said.
She also said that the foreign workers are humans and they need to be protected.
“The Government has a responsibility to protect all those living in Malaysia, even foreign workers. We must never forget that we are dealing with human beings and not merely investments,“ she said.
She said that many foreign workers face hardships here as they are unskilled workers and do not earn a lot of money.
“In many cases they earn less than Malaysians doing the same job. Many leave their countries and come here to earn extra for their families back home. In many cases their families live in desperate conditions and cannot afford to wait years before they receive assistance,“ she said.
She added that if the government is really serious about solving this issue, they must address the root problems.
“If the Government is serious about solving the issue of foreign workers running away, it must address the root causes of the problem not by implementing discriminatory and unjust policies,“ she said.
“I hope that the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) in studying this proposal does not forget to include the views of foreign workers themselves and human rights NGOs,“ she added.
Kulasegaran said earlier that the proposal was not new to the industry as it had been implemented in Japan and South Korea and it was successful in addressing the issue of foreign workers fleeing.
Human Resources minister M. Kulasegaran. — Bernama
