KEPALA BATAS (Bernama): The Human Resource Ministry is in the process of enabling foreign workers covered under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to ensure they receive the same benefits as local workers.
Its minister M. Kulasegaran (pic) said the matter was in line with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) resolution which required every country to have uniform benefits for local and foreign workers.
“All foreign workers include domestic workers (housemaids) will get the benefit (Socso) as local workers.
“The Human Resource Ministry has also taken several measures to implement the proposal including consultation with related parties and after that, I will bring it to the Cabinet for approval,” he told reporters after opening the Independent Foreign Workers Management Committee Town Hall Session at the Industrial Training Institute (ILP) in Kepala Batas here Thursday.
Also present were Human Resource Ministry secretary-general Datuk Amir Omar and International Labour Market Information and Analysis Institute director Wan Zulkifli Wan Setapa who is also the committee's secretary.
Kulasegaran said through the implementation, the government would be able to know the total number of foreign workers in the country based on the number of depositors and if the number goes down, authorities such as the Immigration Department would then be able to track them down.
“Currently, we do not know the actual number of foreign workers but through Socso we will get the real-time (information) of foreign workers and can track those who overstay or those who do not have permits,” he said.
He said apart from Socso contributions, the issue of human trafficking could also be overcome as the employers are required contribute for every worker.
Kulasegaran however denied the implementation of Socso would burden employers as they do not need to pay for special insurance for foreign workers after that. –Bernama
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