Month: May 2023

The United States has expressed its appreciation to the Malaysian government for helping to bring out two of its citizens, during the process of evacuating Malaysians from Sudan.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the matter was conveyed to him by the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call today.

“The efforts made by the Malaysian representatives led by Wisma Putra clearly prove that help given regardless of nationality is greatly appreciated,” Zambry said in a statement.

He said, in the phone conversation, he and Bliken also exchanged views on bilateral cooperation such as opportunities for trade and investment cooperation, exchange of visits, digital economy and climate change, as well as discussing regional and international issues of mutual interest.

“Both sides agreed to continue implementing efforts to strengthen the Malaysia-United States Comprehensive Partnership.

“Hopefully the relationship between Malaysia and the United States remains strong and reaches a higher level in the context of the two countries in various fields,” he said.

On Thursday, Zambry said the 30 Malaysians who were rescued from Khartoum were scheduled to return home today.

Along with the Malaysians, the group included 22 foreign nationals, namely 14 Singaporeans, six Cambodians and two Americans.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin will undertake his inaugural working visit to Malaysia from May 1 to 2.

During the visit which is hosted by Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, both ministers are scheduled to have a bilateral meeting to discuss the way forward in strengthening Malaysia-South Korea long-standing relations and multifaceted cooperation.

Malaysian Foreign Ministry in a statement Monday said high on the agenda was cooperation in trade and investment, digital economy, green energy, culture, defence and education.

Both sides will exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Park is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

It added that Park’s visit is timely as it coincides with the commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Look East Policy (LEP) between Malaysia and South Korea.

“This visit will be an avenue for both sides to advance the partnership to greater heights, guided by shared interest, mutual trust, and people-to-people exchanges,” it read.

In 2022, South Korea was Malaysia’s 8th largest trading partner with total trade amounting to RM114.21 billion (US$25.94 billion), an increase of 29.3 per cent from the recorded value in 2021.

The East Asia nation is also Malaysia’s 7th largest foreign investor in the manufacturing sector for implemented projects valued at RM33.0 billion (US$9.25 billion).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) is the oldest national centre representing the Malaysian workers and among its role today is to promote equality, improve workers’ living standards and create a better and safer working environment for its approximately 500,000 members.

In conjunction with Labour Day today, A. Balasubramaniam who has served MTUC for 40 years and is now its vice-president, shares his journey in campaigning various workers’ issues, including the implementation of minimum wage, retirement age from 55 to 60 years old, five-day work week and Occupational Health Safety Act 1994.

According to Balasubramaniam, he attended several workshops, seminars, courses and meetings organised by international trade union bodies including the International Labour Conference (ILO) in Geneva.

“In June 1980, when I was a tally clerk in one of the ancillary companies which operated in the port area, I joined a workers’ union representing tally clerks called the Union of Employees in Port Ancillary Services Suppliers (UNEPASS), which is an affiliate of MTUC.

“I raised several issues with the union leadership regularly and seeing this, some of the leaders encouraged me to contest in the union election as an office bearer.

“I stood to contest as a member of the UNEPASS executive committee (exco) in Sept 1982 and won to become one of the six exco members,” said Balasubramaniam, now aged 63.

In view of his young age at that time, the leadership also encouraged Balasubramaniam to attend the MTUC Youth Committee meeting where he was identified as a potential candidate to participate actively and capable of contributing more.

He was an active member of the MTUC Exco Youth Committee from 1982 to 1990, and later became its secretary at the Youth Convention in 1990 before he won the Youth Committee chairman post unopposed in 1992 and by virtue of this, he became one of MTUC vice-presidents.

Sharing further, he said he led a delegation of 65 trade union youth leaders to participate in the International Confederation Free Trade Union (ICFTU) Youth Rally held in Seoul in 1994.

The Port Klang-born activist was later elected as the chairman of the youth committee of the ICFTU and had the privilege of chairing the world meeting.

“A motion was proposed in that meeting to cap the age limit for youth representation either at the age of 35 or 40, the majority voted in favour of 35 and it remains in ICTFU as the age limit to date,” he added.

Later, Balasubramaniam became a General Council member from 1994 to 2004 representing UNEPASS; MTUC vice-president in 2004 and MTUC deputy secretary-general in 2016 before he was re-elected as vice-president of MTUC in 2022.

Besides MTUC, he also served in the National Wage Consultative Council as a workers’ representative from 2013 to 2020 and was a board member of Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC) for 12 years.

Balasubramaniam had also been active in the Industrial Court representing workers for various cases such as dismissals, trade disputes, collective agreement, retrenchment and cases involving migrant workers for almost 20 years.

In conjunction with Labour Day, Balasubramaniam called on workers to join force to strengthen trade unions in the country.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The rehabilitation of Lagusnilad vehicular underpass will start on Tuesday (May 2), the City of Manila said. The underpass will be partially closed during rehabilitation, which is expected to be completed after four months. ‘Motorists are advised that the Lagusnilad Vehicular Underpass will have a partial road closure starting May 2, 2023,’ said lawyer Princess Abante, spokesperson of Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah ‘Honey’ Lacuna-Pangan in an advisory. ‘This is to ensure the safe and efficient rehabilitation of the underpass, for at least 4 months or until September 2023,’ she added. At the same time, the Manila local government advised motorists bound for Taft Avenue to take alternate routes as traffic is expected when the works start. Lacuna-Pangan will lead the the groundbreaking ceremony of rehabilitation project on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. The vehicular underpass is located in front of the Manila City Hal

Source: Philippines News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government is “working conscientiously” to provide opportunities that will uplift the living and social conditions of Filipino workers and their families. As the nation celebrates Labor Day, Marcos paid tribute to the workers by describing them as “essential to the sustenance of our soaring economy”. “That is why we strive to address the cares and concerns of our workers as well as provide them with better opportunities so that they are capacitated to their full potential as active participants in nation-building,” Marcos said. “On behalf of our grateful Filipino people, I laud our workforce for their unwavering service and sacrifice in their respective fields and also for their significant contribution in our country’s development,” he added. He urged the private sector to work together with the government in “building on the gains” of good governance and labor reform initiatives to ensure the sustainability of jobs, secure the livelihood of workers and maintain the productivity of the Philippine economy. “If we all unite and work together with renewed hope, vigor, and enthusiasm in our respective fields, industries, and endeavors, I am certain that we can usher in a more equitable and prosperous future for all,” Marcos said. World-class Filipino workers For her part, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman highlighted the big role of Filipino workers here and abroad in ensuring the economy’s expansion. “Today, we honor and recognize your important contributions to the stability and overall well-being of our nation. We have proven, time and again, that our quality-oriented work ethic is what makes Filipino workers world-class and a cut above the rest,” she said in a statement. Pangandaman noted the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has scheduled several activities that will boost workers’ welfare such as the payout of assistance to beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program. She said DOLE is also implementing the Government Internship Program and the Special Program for Employment of Students. “These are a great help to our kababayans (compatriots),” she said. She said the current government “has infused social protection programs in the 2023 national budget, mostly for the targeted vulnerable sectors of society.” This, she said, “is our commitment to achieve our eight-point Socioeconomic Agenda.” “Rest assured that we, at DBM shall endeavor to support programs that will benefit the welfare of our labor force. Hindi po namin kayo pababayaan (We will not abandon you),” she said. “Let our determination to give every Filipino family a fighting chance to live a decent and prosperous life be our shared resolve this 2023 Labor Day.” Backbone of economy In another statement, House Speaker Martin Romualdez cited the sacrifices of the Filipino workers. ‘Our workers are the backbone not only of their families but of the economy and the nation. The economy would not be running if not for their tireless toil,’ he said. He said the House of Representatives will always make it a point to attend to the concerns of the workers with “measures that protect their rights, promote their welfare and preserve their jobs and incomes.’ He said recently enacted laws aim to enhance economic growth and improve the investment climate in the country, among them the liberalization amendments introduced in the Public Service Act, Retail Trade Law and Foreign Investments Act. ‘The investment-diplomatic missions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his economic team, joined by a small group of House members, are all aimed at sustaining economic growth,’ he said. ‘If we can keep the economy on the high growth path, our workers’ jobs and incomes are not only preserved but we create more economic opportunities for them and their families, and our people in general.’ Wage hike The Senate likewise renewed its commitment to push for legislation that will protect and advance the interests of workers, particularly in terms of wage hike. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he will bat for a salary increase of at least PHP150 in the private sector as contained in Senate Bill No 2002 or the Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act. ‘This Labor Day, I join all our workers in fighting for decent benefits, living wages, and fair working conditions. This is especially crucial as rising costs of goods and utilities continue to hit our people’s pockets, to the point that even toiling with a full-time job is no longer enough to support their families’ needs,’ Zubiri said in a statement. Senator Raffy Tulfo said in another statement that the Committee on Labor will start discussions on May 10 on Senate Resolution No. 476 that calls for a review on existing policies on wage increases. DOLE, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board and Department of Trade and Industry representatives will be invited as resource persons. Based on studies, Tulfo said a family of five needs at least PHP1,161 daily for survival, far from the daily current rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) of PHP570. The NCR rate is the highest in non-agriculture wages while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has the lowest at PHP316. Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles, House Committee on Labor and Employment chair, similarly vowed to continue to fight for workers’ welfare. “As we strive to recover from the massive blow dealt by the pandemic, our people can rest assured that we will continue fighting for workers’ welfare through meaningful legislation and by working with the government, industries, and workers themselves,” Nograles said. However, he asked for patience amid calls for an increase in minimum wage. “Naiintindihan natin ang pinagmumulan ng panawagang ito. Ngunit kailangan din nating balansehin ang interes ng iba pang (We understand the root of this call. But we also need to balance along with the interest of other) stakeholders. We cannot rush our deliberations on such a crucial measure,” he said. He emphasized the importance of other interventions to help workers amid the current review of the wage hike proposal. Nograles said DOLE’s announcement to give PHP1.8 billion financial assistance to workers will help a lot ‘while we study the permanent solution.

Source: Philippines News Agency