ACCCIM to sit in wage council

We hear you: Dr Wee (right) fielding queries from members of the Nilai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Negri Sembilan.

NILAI: The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) will soon sit in the National Wages Consultative Council.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said he had raised the matter in a recent Cabinet meeting and the response was positive.

“Even the Human Resources Minister Datuk Richard Riot had no objection to this,” he told reporters after a dialogue session with members of the Nilai Chamber of Commerce and Industry here.

Dr Wee said although employer groups were already represented in the council, ACCCIM had also requested to sit in to allow its voice to be heard.

The ACCCIM is the national-level organisation of the Chinese chambers of commerce in the country and represents more than 28,000 companies, individuals and trade associations.

During the dialogue earlier, Dr Wee, among others, fielded queries on schemes for small and medium scale enterprises and foreign worker-related issues.

He said there were several schemes for SMEs, including loan facilities, but some businessmen were ignorant of their existence.

“These SMEs should approach the relevant bodies and find out what facilities are available to help business growth,” he said.

As for foreign workers, Dr Wee said some SMEs felt that the rule requiring them to repatriate workers who have been employed for six years was unproductive.

“They feel that bringing in new workers in place of old ones would not only reduce productivity but could be more costly,” he said.

Dr Wee said some SMEs have also expressed concern that their foreign workers would leave and work for another employer who paid more.

“Sometimes they can no longer trace these foreigners.

“So they are asking for the authorities to come up with a standard operating procedure on what help they can get if they face such a problem,” he said, adding that he would forward the grievances raised by the SMEs to the relevant authorities.