The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has urged the government to urgently revive the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) in order to deal with issues affecting human resource development and the updating of labour laws.
In his opening speech at the Federation’s Annual General Meeting in Subang Jaya today, MEF President Y.Bhg. Dato’ Azman Shah Dato’ Seri Haron raised MEF’s concerns about labour issues being discussed at various ad hoc meetings outside of the Ministry of Human Resources.
“MEF has been working on important matters affecting human resources and labour laws but unfortunately many of these were discussed through ad hoc meetings and other forum outside the Ministry of Human Resources,” said Dato’ Azman.
“These platforms include the PEMANDU Strategic Reform Initiatives (SRI) Lab which discussed, among other things, modernising labour laws, trade union, check‐off, retirement age, and increase of levy for foreign workers.
“Among the many proposals that were put forward include the abolishment of the Human Resources Minister’s discretion not to refer dismissal cases to the Industrial Court.”
Dato’ Azman said MEF had met with the Minister of Human Resources and the Secretary General to call for the reactivation the NLAC as labour policy matters should rightfully be discussed at the NLAC level as it is the highest tripartite body.
“These matters deserve the utmost attention of the government especially in view of the latest IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook ranking which puts Malaysia down sixth rungs from 10th in 2010 to 16th position overall in 2011,” he said.
He said the dip in Malaysia’s competitiveness ranking indicates the importance that Malaysia needs to further improve on the identified benchmarked criteria as other countries are also improving by leaps and bounds.
“Evidently, the improvements achieved thus far were not good enough,” he added.
For further information, please contact the MEF Secretariat at 03‐7955‐7779 or fax 03‐7955‐9008.
29 JULY 2011
http://www.mef.org.my/Att_PressRelease/PR110729.pdf
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