LETTERS: I am appalled at the suggestion by the Nepali government's Labour and Employment Ministry to appoint a Malaysian company to provide "protection and welfare services" to Nepali migrant workers here ("Additional RM200 fee to hire Nepali workers raises eyebrows" — NST, Jan 11, 2024).
It is obvious that the ministry has little understanding and knowledge of the provisions by the Malaysian government and industry to safeguard the welfare of workers.
Most, if not all, employer associations in Malaysia have committees to safeguard the protection and welfare of migrant workers engaged by their members. They adhere to the minimum requirements imposed by the government.
On the government side, we have the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso), which provides protection and welfare to all workers.
To do so, funds are collected monthly by Perkeso. Generally, workers contribute 0.5 per cent of their salary to the fund, and employers contribute 1.75 percent.
In addition, employers must take care of the welfare of migrant workers by providing them housing, welfare services and amenities, adhering to the minimum standards as stipulated under the Employees' Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446).
The Nepali ministry should have engaged with large employer associations such as the Malaysian Employers Federation or the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers prior to considering a third-party company.
The purpose of Perkeso is to provide social security funds to employees in the private sector in case of working injuries, emergencies, occupational illnesses or death.
Setting up a third-party company is unnecessary and redundant because it merely increases the cost of doing business, something that benefits only the third-party company.
WONG SOO KAN
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times