Entertainment artistes suffering from lopsided contracts, remedy needed, says minister

COMMUNICATIONS Minister Fahmi Fadzil has called on the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) to ensure that contracts signed by artistes in the industry are streamlined and serve to benefit them.

He expressed concern that there are artistes who have been subjected to lopsided contracts drawn up by companies which are against their best interests.

Fahmi said that he has had a series of discussions with veteran artistes who have been confronted with financial challenges in life.

He found out that it was not only the issue of living costs which has been troubling them, but also the contracts that they had signed which were unfair to them.

The contracts ended up victimising them instead of allowing them to earn well, said Fahmi, who added that his ministry needs to study the matter further.

Fahmi said this at a forum on empowering youths in the digital age which was mooted by the Penang Bumiputra Development Council at the Seberang Perai Polytechnic in Penang.

He also said that the government's Digital Economy Centre (PEDi) will be given a new name and function in a rebranding exercise expected by the second quarter of this year.

He said it will be rebranded as the centre is being utilised by the community for activities that do not involve the digital economy.

PEDi outlets are frequented by the public to get information about grants, assistance and services provided by the government, he said. Some outlets also serve as post offices.

On another matter, Fahmi said that the cabinet has yet to decide on specific guidelines to prevent foreign workers from enjoying the same subsidies which their Malaysian counterparts get.

He said that the matter was discussed generally in the cabinet, but the ministers did not pin down any special guideline for such a proposal.

The country is now in the midst of trying to rationalise government subsidy payouts and there are some suggestions from certain quarters to disallow foreign workers from enjoying the same subsidy rates for items such as essential foods and Ron 95 fuel. – The Vibes, February 16, 2024