Sim: Ministry to improve management of workers

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry is committed to speeding up improvements in the management and coordination aspects of policies involving foreign workers to ensure they are more effective.

Its minister Steven Sim said the matter would be decided at a meeting with the Home Ministry on Jan 16.

“The role of the Human Resources Ministry is very clear, and has been confirmed by the Home Ministry, to control or manage the statistics of the number of foreign workers allowed in the country, as well as the issues of employment, residence and the rights of foreign workers,” he said, Bernama reported.

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He said this to reporters after making his maiden working visit to Wisma Cuepac here and meeting with the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) yesterday.

During the meeting, Sim said among the things to be detailed during the joint meeting with the Home Ministry next week are efforts to improve any gaps and coordinate the policies of the two ministries, for issue involving foreign workers to be better managed.

On Tuesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reportedly said a meeting with the Human Resources Ministry will be held on Jan 16, to work on a formula for the management of foreign workers for more effective implementation.

Commenting on the claims that more than 500,000 foreign workers might be abandoned and left jobless in the country, Sim said that the ministry took an open stance on the claims made by the National Association of Private Employment Agencies Malaysia (Papsma).

“I urge the relevant parties to make an official report so that we can take action,” he said, referring to the claim by Papsma secretary-general Dr Sukumaran Nair.

Meanwhile, Cuepacs president Datuk Dr Adnan Mat said yesterday’s visit reflected the Human Resources Minister’s principle and determination to always be with the workers.