KUALA LUMPUR – The implementation of the e-wages system needs to be thoroughly examined and postponed until the resulting issues are resolved, said Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar (Batu Gajah-PH).
Replying to a parliamentary question, he said that the cabinet has also ordered the home, human resources, and finance ministries to hold further discussions to resolve the pending issues.
“The issues the current government faces in implementing e-wages include the RM1 charge per month for each migrant worker, which is deemed too high and gives the government room to be criticised by various parties.
“As such, an effective communication plan, convincing narrative, and strong justification to face criticism that will be directed at the unity government under the Madani concept is considered part of the issues,” he said.
Other issues, Sivakumar said, include data integrity and security.
Sivakumar’s response comes after former human resources minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan (Tapah-BN), asked the Batu Gajah MP about the current status of the company appointed by the ministry to manage the e-wages system during his term in 2022.
Previously, Saravanan initiated the e-wages system in 2021 to ensure all workers in the country, including migrant workers, are paid their salaries and wages as promised by employers.
According to Sivakumar, the ministry in the previous administration had submitted a memorandum to the cabinet to obtain the government’s approval for the implementation of the e-wages on January 12.
The cabinet then has agreed in principle for the e-wages module under the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS) to be implemented, enabling the Human Resources Ministry to monitor and enforce the payment of workers’ wages, starting with migrant workers and then extended to all workers.
However, implementation of the e-wages system has been postponed for now to be refined and discussed further between the three ministries as directed by the cabinet, he said. –The Vibes, March 15, 2023
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