CABINET TO DECIDE ON MNCs REQUEST FOR FOREIGN WORKERS

SEREMBAN (Malaysia), July 9 (Bernama) -- The Human Resources Ministry will
submit to the Cabinet the request by several multi-national corporations (MNCs)
to employ foreign workers, said its minister Dr. S.Subramaniam.

He said only the Cabinet could decide on their request as currently there
was a freeze on the recruitment of foreign workers in three sectors, including
the electrical and electronic industry.

However, the MNCs would first have to assure his ministry that they have
considered applications from locals to work in their companies, he said.

"They (the MNCs) must be prepared to implement a reasonable salary structure
that will make locals interested to take up the jobs," he told reporters after a
"meet-the-people" session here Thursday.

The terms of employment for locals would also have to be reasonable and
competitive to attract locals.

Dr. Subramaniam said the Labour Department would ensure that locals were
hired first by these companies before they were allowed to recruit foreign
workers.

It was reported that several MNCs such as Sony were scouting for new workers
in thousands after demand for their products had increased.

Some of these companies had retrenched hundreds of the foreign workers who
had since left the country while the local workers had found jobs elsewhere.

On the domestic workers' issue from Indonesia, Dr. Subramaniam said he was
confident that Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta would be able to resolve the existing
problems at their Joint Working Group meeting scheduled to be held later this
month in Kuala Lumpur or Putrajaya.

He said on Malaysia's part, the Employment Act 1955 would be amended
probably in December this year to pave the way for a new set of regulations
which include protection to employers against maids who abscond.

The other regulations would include making it mandatory for employers to
open a bank account for their maids to have their salaries deposited in the
account to ensure prompt payment by the employer.

Dr. Subramaniam said issues brought up by Indonesia, including a minimum
salary for maids would be studied thoroughly.

"We are confident of a win-win situation for both sides," he added.
--BERNAMA