PUTRAJAYA: The complete report on the alleged misappropriation of RM300 million from the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) is expected to be ready by the end of October.
Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran said the interim report had been submitted to him and the full report should be ready by next month.
“We will inform what are the suggestions and actions that need to be taken after the full report has been received from the independent body,” he told reporters after the launch of the World Day Against Children Labour 2018 programme.
In June, Kulasegaran had announced a five-man independent monitoring committee to review and probe the HRDF fund and resolve complaints against it.
The HRDF is an agency under the Human Resource Ministry that manages a training fund for human resource development.
The agency was also reported as saying that the HRDF would take all allegations against it seriously and pledged full cooperation to the Human Resource Ministry and relevant authorities
Kulasegaran also said the ministry would consider amending the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966 to make sure it stayed relevant to current needs and situations.
He added that the amendment and changes would also prevent, if any, child labour issues in the country.
“Although child labour is an isolated case, we have to make sure it doesn’t spread,” the minister said.
He added the ministry also considered amending and improving eight other laws under its jurisdiction - Employment Act 1955; Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 [Act 514]; Sabah Labour Ordinance; Sarawak Labour Ordinance; Industrial Relations Act 1967; Trade Unions Act 1959; Workers’ Minimum Standards of the Housing and Amenities Act 1990 [Act 446] and Private Employment Agencies 1981.
“We hope to table the proposed amendments in the next parliament sitting,” he said.
To a question, he said it was the cabinet who had decided on the RM10,000 levy payment rate on employers who wanted to extend their foreign workers’ Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS)after considering various factors based on facts and figures.
“This decision is also based on feedback we have received from employers who prefer to retain their experienced foreign workers,” he said.