NST Online: Topnews

Man holds kindergarten kids, teachers hostage

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:48 PM PDT

Man holds kindergarten kids, teachers hostage

MUAR: A hammer-wielding man holding about 30 kids, including teachers hostage in Sg Abong, Muar.

At least one kid died. Police have cordoned the area and now negotiating for the children's release.

More updates to follow.

Air your comment on this issue:

Man holds kindergarten kids, teachers hostage

Log in with your Facebook account or use the form below to comment.

New Straits Times reserves the right not to publish offensive or abusive comments and those of hate speech, harassment, commercial promos and invasion of privacy. Your IP will be logged and may be used to prevent further submission.The views expressed here are that of the members of the public and unless specifically stated are not those of NST.

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price.

'Pay minimum wage or risk fine'

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:46 AM PDT

'Pay minimum wage or risk fine'

2011/07/06
By Elvina Fernandez
elvina@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Workers who are not paid according to the minimum wage when it is implemented at the end of the year, can report their employers to the Labour Department.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said once the minimum wage comes into effect, it would be compulsory for employers to comply or risk being fined.

"The department will be monitoring the situation. But employees who feel they are not being given their rights can approach the department directly," he said yesterday.

He said that once the provisions for the minimum wage became law, employers who fail to comply would be liable to a fine of not more than RM10,000 for each employee.

A study by the Human Resources Ministry in 2009 showed that 33.8 per cent of the 1.3 million workers covered earned less than RM700 a month. This is below the poverty line, which is RM720 a month.

Dr Subramaniam said the proposed new legislation for a minimum wage provides for the setting up of a National Wages Consultative Council which would recommend an appropriate minimum wage.

"This will help the ministry in meeting the objective of assisting the lowly paid workers."

He also said the council would make suggestions to the government based on sectors, types of employment and regions.

He added that there would be a review of the minimum wage every two years.

He said the minimum wage should not be too low as it would not serve the purpose, nor too high as it may cause problems to the economy by forcing businessmen to relocate or close down their businesses.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress had earlier asked for the minimum wage to be set at RM900 a month.

Rabu, 6 Julai 2011