Former minister Kula responds to M’kini commentators

Reference is made to the recently published Malaysiakini article (Kula urges gov't to set up task force on job security) to my call for the government to set up a bipartisan task force to ensure the job security of all Malaysians in the current challenging economic environment.

Towards this, I would like to clarify the following concerns and comments raised by netizens on the said matters:

1. My call for the setting up of a bipartisan task force on job security:

• I am a firm believer that everyone is entitled to their opinions. However, I also believe there is a time and a place for everything. During this challenging period (in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak), it may not be the best time for politicising.
  
• As a Malaysian first, I am concerned that many are at a tail end as a result of this pandemic and this is the reason I called for the government to consider the setting up of a bipartisan taskforce; ensuring an inclusive approach on job security particularly for blue-collared and B40 (bottom 40 percent) income groups.
  
• With the challenging economic environment, many employers will demand for highly-skilled workers with new skill-sets to remain resilient; leaving very little room for low-skilled workers.
  
• Studies indicate that creating a government-sponsored employment services for the menial and unskilled will provide them with an avenue to discuss re-employment.
  
• Alternatively, the government can also ensure job security by promoting “short-time compensation” or “work-sharing,” and by reforming the unemployment insurance system to make it more responsive to economic conditions as well as implementing trade policies that promote jobs.

2. The mile markers of the Ministry of Human Resources during my leadership:

• During my tenure, I had my fair share of triumphs and trials. This was especially so when dealing with the demands from NGOs, employers, and employees, which often contradict each other. As a result, the ministry had to mitigate the situation and form policies in the best interest of the rakyat.
  
• A few of the ministry’s key achievements during the aforementioned period are:

I. The setting up of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) which members were the government, Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF), and the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC). In 2019, the NLAC met 10 times.

II. The declaration of ‘War on Human Trafficking’ in Malaysia after acknowledging that the country had been suffering from it. The ministry held townhall sessions with employers urging them to start being more accountable and to assist the government in eradicating forced labour.

Additionally, employers were urged to incorporate the Social Compliance Audit reports as part of their accountability; which will enable Malaysia to move up the ranks from the Tier 2 Watch list of the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons so as to avoid potential product sanctions.

III. With the advent of the fourth industrial revolution (IR4.0), the Human Resources Ministry ensured that all of our labour laws were amended to better protect our workers against any type of discrimination.

To name a few which were looked into were the Industrial Relations Act 1967; Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966; the Workers’ Minimum Standard of Housing and the Amenities (Amendment) Bill 2019.

The ministry was going to amend the Trade Unions Act 1959; the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994; and the Employment Act 1955 prior to the change in government.

IV. The ministry was also in the process of enacting changes to the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 to ensure that Socso protects all people in Malaysia including housewives.

V. In addition, through the Employment Act amendments, we were to bring the idea of seven days of paternity leave in addition to the recently approved 90-day maternity leave.

VI. During my stint as the human resources minister, my heart was set on championing the rights of the Orang Asli community by providing them with a pathway to learn technical skills through institutes under the ministry. I am happy that we were able - in our capacity at that time to provide a better future to more than 50 Orang Asli students who enrolled at our Institut Latihan Perindustrian (ILP).

VII. The ministry was also geared to skill, reskill, upskill and cross skill Malaysian workers so that they earn a better income and have more mobility with their jobs. To facilitate this, Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes are now open after office hours - between 5.30pm and 11pm.

VIII. The ministry also launched the SkillsMalaysia 2.0 programme to step up promotion of TVET through outreach programmes at primary and secondary schools nationwide, especially in rural areas.

IX. In early February, the ministry - with the support of Sime Darby Plantation Bhd, launched the Skim Khas Pembiayaan Rumah Pekerja Estet (SKRE). Towards this, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd was to provide the ministry with 4.04 hectares of land in Sungai Siput, Perak, to construct more than 100 units of medium-cost houses for the plantation company’s employees.

X. More importantly, I strived for the ministry, its agencies and departments to become more transparent and accountable to taxpayers by having many townhall sessions and independent committees.

As an example, the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) Governance Oversight Committee (GOC) that investigated the previous wrongdoings of the agency and made the entire findings available online for public viewing, was a first in Malaysian history.

• Additionally, I started the ‘Meet the People’ session every Tuesday at the ministry because I wanted to personally hear the plight of the rakyat. During my stint, I had personally seen almost 4,000 people, with over 1,000 cases solved by the ministry in 2019.
  
• The ministry too completed the Independent Committee on Foreign Workers report which was then submitted for cabinet decision for implementation.
  
• Last but not least, the ministry also inked a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between Malaysia and Japan; enabling Malaysians to work in Japan through TalentCorp – an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Human Resources.

To end, I wish the new minister of human resources and the ministry all the best in striving to better our nation through its most valuable asset – its rakyat.

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M KULA SEGARAN is former human resources minister, Ipoh Barat parliamentarian and DAP national vice-chairperson. - Mkini