GEORGE TOWN – The Human Resources Ministry is ready to study a proposal to enact a law relating to allowances for industrial or practical training students.
Minister V. Sivakumar, however, said the existing Employment Act 1955 is sufficient to protect workers’ rights, including students in industrial training.
He was speaking after an opening ceremony for the National Human Capital Conference & Exhibition 2023 (NHCCE 2023) – Northern Region, here, which was officiated by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Sivakumar was commenting on press reports of calls from various parties, including the student representative council of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim), that the proposed law be expedited to curb labour exploitation.
Shamsul Aiman Mua’mar Shamsul Bahrain, who heads the student council, was reported to have said that it was time for the long-neglected matter to be immediately presented to the cabinet.
Earlier, the media reported that many well-known companies hold unpaid work placements for practical students.
Meanwhile, in another development, Sivakumar said that he had instructed the Manpower Department to ensure that any migrant workers who enter the country already have jobs lined up, following reports of unemployed migrants living as squatters..
The two-day NHCCE 2023, starting yesterday, is organised by the Human Resource Development Corp in collaboration with the Penang Skills Development Centre, and mainly focused on the opportunities and challenges faced by industry players in the northern region. – Bernama, June 1, 2023
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