HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVES CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS EMPLOYMENT BILL

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The House of Representatives Monday
approved the Children and Young Persons (Employment) (Amendment) Bill 2010,
prohibiting children and young girls from working in hotels, bars, restaurants,
lodging houses and clubs except in family-owned businesses.

Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam said these were among jobs
where children and young people were not allowed to be employed to safeguard
their safety and health.

"If they want to work outside the scope of the permitted jobs, they will
have to get approval from the Manpower Department," he said when tabling the
bill at the House of Representatives Monday.

He said children and young persons were also prohibited from working in jobs
which endanger them or expose them to immoral activities.

The bill, among others, also proposed an increase in the age of people
defined as children from below 14 to below 15, and young persons from below 16
to below 18.

Meanwhile, when winding up the debate on the bill, Subramaniam welcomed the
call for the government to publish the employment guidelines, saying this could
prevent children and young persons from being exploited.

Earlier Chong Eng, a opposition MP called on the government to carry out
publicity drive to create awareness on the new legislation.

"The people can lodge reports of employers who fail to adhere to the new
regulations," she said.

The House of Representatives sitting continues Tuesday.

-- BERNAMA