Here are some of the topics that were highlighted at the Dewan Rakyat sitting yesterday:
Starting off, one of the topics that was highlighted was the implementation of the Petrol Subsidy Program (PSP) to which the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and the Finance Ministry (MoF) have decided to deny the implementation.
The reason for this decision was apparently to avoid misunderstanding among people of Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan and that’s because only people in Peninsular Malaysia are involved in the subsidy.
The second reason was “to avoid creating a wide gap in petrol prices between Peninsular Malaysia, and Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan,” said Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Rosol Wahid.
Another topic that was highlighted yesterday was on foreign workers and the Ministry of Human Resources said today the Malaysian government had decided that only 3 industries will be allowed to employ foreign workers; the construction, plantation and agriculture sectors. So this is basically to cut the country’s reliance or dependance on foreign workers.
Next, paternity leave, extended maternity leave and improvement of protection to address sexual harassment in the workplace were also issues that were raised. Deputy Human Resources Minister Awang Hashim said that the plan to amend the 1955 Employment Act was to raise the minimum job rate in line with international labor standards.
He said during a Q&A session that the provision will also specify the request to change the terms and conditions of employment with regard to the flexibility of work arrangements for the employee, including working hours and days, and the place of work on the basis of certain conditions agreed between the employer and the employee.
Also Jugah Anak Muyang @ Tambat (Bebas-Lubok Antu) wanted to know whether the government would study the labour law as well as reform on the labour market to which Awang answered that only 56 city and municipal councils so far have implemented the RM1,200 minimum monthly wage and efforts to ensure that all parties to continue to implement the same wage rate.
