HUMAN RESOURCE MINISTRY WILLING TO HEAR EMPLOYERS` VIEWS

PENANG (Malaysia), June 18 (Bernama) -- The Human Resource Ministry welcomes
views from all parties, including employers, on the government's move to compel
employers to give their maids a day off every week.

Its deputy minister, Senator Maznah Mazlan, said their views would be
brought to the attention of the Cabinet.

"We'll listen to the views of all parties and I believe this matter will
also be discussed in the cabinet," she told reporters after opening the Federal
Malaysian Manufacturers Industrial Relations Conference here Thursday.

She said this when asked for her comments on objections raised by some
employers on the proposed day off for maids for fear that it would create more
problems.

On another matter, Maznah said a total of 29,348 workers had been laid off
or offered the voluntary separation scheme (VSS) in the country until Wednesday,
adding that 22 per cent of them were foreign workers.

She said of the 35,806 job vacancies available, 18,989 had been filled.

In Penang, she said, 7,671 workers had been laid off and 2,351 of them had
obtained new jobs.

She believed that some of the workers who were laid off had started their
own business, but did not report it to the Manpower Department.

Women should be encouraged to work to reduce the country's dependence on
foreign workers and that child care centres in industrial areas should be set up
to make it easier for them to go to work, she added.
-- BERNAMA