Ministry can't table recommendations on labour due to suspended Parliament

 

A suspended Parliament has prevented the country from fulfilling its international labour obligations.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) noted in its latest report that Putrajaya had once again failed to respond to its concerns.

Human Resources Minister M Saravanan (above) told Free Malaysia Today that the government was supposed to table ILO’s recommendations in the March 8 to April 8 Dewan Rakyat session.

However, this plan was shelved after the proclamation of emergency suspended the sitting.

“The original intention was to submit these instruments at the March sitting of Parliament to facilitate such reporting at the 2021 ILO Conference, scheduled for June.

“However, this has been put on hold due to the postponement of the Parliament sitting.

“In these circumstances, it will be tabled at the next sitting,” he was quoted as saying.

Saravanan added that the cabinet was aware of ILO’s recommendations, adding that his ministry was committed to complying with the United Agency’s guidelines.

Released on Feb 15, the ILO’s 2021 Report on the Application of International Labour Standards classified Malaysia as one of the countries that had committed a “serious failure to submit” a response to its requests.

“Serious failure to submit (a response). The committee notes with regret that the government has once again provided no response to its previous comments.

“It recalls that the constitutional obligation of submission is of the highest importance and is a fundamental element of the standards system of the ILO.

“The committee therefore once again expresses the firm hope... that the government will comply with its obligation to submit conventions, recommendations and protocols to the competent authority,” read the report.

The ILO said as many as four reports it requested from Malaysia had yet to be submitted.

In its report, the ILO noted that Malaysia’s migrant worker levy system could result in “unfavourable treatment” of these workers compared to locals.

It also expressed satisfaction at the government’s move to cover migrant workers under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969.

The ILO is responsible for regulating labour standards in its 187 member states which includes Malaysia.  - Mkini