MINISTRY SETS UP WAGES COUNCIL FOR CULINARY AND HOTEL SECTORS

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The Human Resources Ministry has set up the Wages Council for the Culinary and Hotel Sectors to study and recommend fair and
reasonable minimum wages for workers in the two sectors.

The rate to be recommended should be in line with the International Labour
Organisation (ILO)'s minimum wage concept, said Minister Dr S. Subramaniam at
the appointment ceremony of the council's members here Wednesday.

"I hope the council will decide on the reasonable minimum wage rate based
on
that concept to protect the employees besides safeguarding the interests of
employers, hence create a harmonious industrial relationship," he said.

He said the council would also investigate the employees' welfare and
security aspects and its impact on related sectors.

"Besides, the council will be given the mandate to study and recommend ways
to solve the issue of service charge which has become a topic of disputes in the
hotel industry," he said.

Dr Subramaniam said he hoped members of the council would be come up with
integrated findings and determine a fair and reasonable minimum wage for
employees in the sector.

"With an assurance of more attractive wages and employment terms and
conditions, we are confident that the country's culinary and hotel industries
can expand and remain competitive," he said.

He said the Cabinet approved the ministry's proposal to set up the council
on April 16 and the number of workers covered was estimated at 787,800 based of
the Statistics Department's First Quarter Labour Force Survey Report 2008.

"Based on the information obtained from the Peninsular Malaysia National
Union of Hotel, Bar & Restaurant Workers, their members have reached 10,114. So,
the number of employees in this sector covered by the workers' union is small,
at only around 1.3 percent of the total number.

"This is among the main factors why the council is formed for employees in
this sector," he said.
-- BERNAMA