KUCHING: The Human Resources Ministry and the Chief Minister’s Office will form a technical committee on matters related to the amendments of seven labour laws including the Labour Ordinance (Sarawak Chapter 76).
Human Resources Minister M Kula Segaran said the ministry would be amending nine Acts in parliament.
“We have already amended two – Children and Young Persons Act and Private Employment Agency Act. Some of the other Acts are related to Sarawak, so that is why I came here to get the Chief Minister’s consent.
“The chief minister has agreed to look at the amendments, and we have come to an agreement on the formation of a common technical committee between the ministry and his office,” he said during a press conference after a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the State Legislative Assembly here yesterday.
Kula also disclosed that Johari had agreed that there should not be any delay or hindrance if it was related to the protection of labourers in the country.
“All these Acts that we plan to amend will be discussed at the technical stage to proceed on,” Kula said.
“We are happy that the formation of the technical committee will take place as soon as possible and the State Secretary, who was also present at the meeting yesterday, had agreed to lead the team on behalf of the state government. The ministry will also form a committee to look into it,” he added.
Meanwhile, the chief minister had suggested that Sarawak Business Federation be included as a party in the National Wages Council Act.
To this, Kula said: “It is in regard to the minimum wage in the country so that they can also participate by giving their views and opinions as to how best to represent the state’s interest.
“We will look into the CM’s suggestion favourably. At present, we already have a representative here, from the Malaysian Employers Federation, so we will see what we can do to accommodate them.”
According to Kula, the technical committee would have substantial numbers while the committee from his ministry would be headed by the ministry’s secretary (policies) Betty Hassan.
Continued on page 5 ( New Sarawak Tribune 14.12.18)
