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Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:39 AM PDT

2011/10/11
By Masami Mustaza
masamimustaza@nst.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The Human Resources Ministry has asked the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to study the feasibility and impact of a retrenchment fund for workers in the country.

Its minister, Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, said the government had toyed with the idea of setting up the fund for those who were forced into unemployment.

It, however, could not be executed because of concerns on the long-term feasibility of the fund.

Another option was to have an unemployment insurance, but Dr Subramaniam said it was "tricky" because if it were to be implemented in the Employment Act, then the retrenchment benefits would have to be removed.

He said as such, the ILO had been roped in to study the matter.

On the decision by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) to picket over amendments to the Employment Act 1955, Dr Subramaniam said he was saddened.

He said this was despite the ministry explaining to MTUC on the amendments the day the bill was tabled in Parliament last week.

"We explained to them that the amendments were made based on the National Union of Plantation Workers' request to give protection to their workers. This request was made a few years ago," he said after opening the Malaysian Employers Federation National Conference 2011 at a hotel here.

He said the ministry wanted to legalise the outsourcing of workers in a bid for companies to register themselves. This would enable the government to have control in monitoring these companies, as well as identifying the employers and their workers.

Dr Subramaniam said MTUC had twisted the matter by saying that the ministry was now giving the opportunity for employers to allow outsourcing of workers.

"We are not. The issue of outsourcing is something we hope to overcome with the cooperation of employers and workers," he stressed.

MTUC, in its general council meeting on Monday, had agreed to hold a nationwide picket on Nov 3.

On Oct 3, some 200 MTUC members held a brief picket outside Parliament against the second reading of the Employment Bill (Amendments) 2011. The bill was later passed.

On a report that local employers hiring workers from India would have to adhere to revised guidelines imposed by the Indian government, including a minimum wage requirement, Dr Subramaniam said it was a unilateral decision made by the south Asian country.

He said though it was the Indian government's right to enforce such measures, it was not a must for the Malaysian government to ensure that Indian workers are guaranteed by the salaries stipulated.

Dr Subramaniam added that the move was not something new as Philippines had imposed a similar requirement for quite sometime.

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Teaching families about dangers in cyberworld

Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:38 AM PDT

2011/10/11
By Elvina Fernandez
elvina@nst.com.my

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil chatting with students of SMK Sri Bintang Utara Cheras after launching the Child Online Protection seminar at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel yesterday. — NST picture by Nik Hariff Hassan

KUALA LUMPUR: Place the computer desktop in the family area where the screen can easily be seen and monitored and log out after accessing social networking sites or after checking emails from public computers.

These are just some of the tips contained in Guide to a Family-friendly Internet Experience that every parent should know and advise their children when going online. It is available for free from next month.

The guidebook, a joint project between Cybersecurity Malaysia under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and Digi Telecommunication Sdn Bhd, was launched by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil during a two-day Child Online Protection seminar here yesterday.

Shahrizat said parents knew how to protect their children in the real world but were often clueless and helpless when it came to the dangers of the cyberworld.

"Both parent and children must know the dangers lurking in the cyberspace such as cyberbullying, cyber grooming, identity theft and pornography."

She said the seminar, attended by various experts, academicians, government agencies and NGOs, would craft a strategic plan, regulations, laws and policies on child online protection

"It is time we had a law to protect children from the dangers of cyberworld," she said.

Norton Online Family Report 2010 said Malaysian children spent an average of 19 hours in a week surfing the Internet, although their parents thought they had spent less time than that.

The report also found that nine out of 10 children were exposed to negative surfing experiences which affected them emotionally, yet only four out of 10 parents had knowledge of their children's surfing activities.

CyberSecurity Malaysia said 11,930 cyber crime incidents were reported to the Cyber 999 help centre from January to September, which was a 130 per cent jump from last year.

Copies of the guidebook will also be distributed to schools and can be accessed online at www.digi.com.my.

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Selasa, 11 Oktober 2011

NST Online: Topnews

NST Online: Topnews

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