Introduction Of Department Of Labour In Peninsular Malaysia

Introduction of Department of labour in Peninsular Malaysia  The Department of Labour is headed by a Director-General who is assisted by a Deputy Director-General.  Director of Labour supervised the state -level Labour offices and sub-offices.  The Department enforces the Employment Act 1955,the Workmen's Compensation Act 1952,the Wages Council Act 1947,the children and Young Persons (Employment Act 1966),the Employment (Restriction) Act 1968 and the Workers Minimum Standard of Housing and Amenities Act 1990.  Through the labour court the department inquires into disputes between workers and employers over payment or non-payment of wages,allowances,retrenchments and other benefit due to employees under their individual contracts of employment or as required by the employment laws.

Background of Department of labour in Peninsular Malaysia  To protect and promote the interests and well being of the industrial community  To give priority and perpetuate employment oppurtunities to the citizens of this country.  To assist industries to improve their competitiveness in facing the challenges of globalisation.  To create an industrial community that is knowledgeable in matters relating to labour laws in order to create a more conducive environment for industrial development and investment.

Vision The main driving force in creating excellent human resource management in the private sector.

Mission Creating an industrial society that is productive, informative, disciplined, caring as well as responsive to change in the context of the labour environment

Activities of Department of Labour Workplaces Inspection  Statutory inspection is one of the main activities conducted by Labour Department to protect the right of workers.  Labour inspection is one of the International Labor Organization(ILO)convention ratified by Malaysia.  Workplacesshould be inspected as often as throughly as is necessary to ensure the effective application of the relevant legal provisions.  Under section 61 of the Employment Act 1955,it is duty of an employer to keep register containing information regarding each employee employed and such registered shall be preserved for not less than six years and made available for inspection.  During inspection employer will be given advice and guid on labor laws.  Inspection also helps in continuous gathering of labour market information which is vital for the planning of the national workforces.  As at 30 June 2008 there are 647,013 workplaces registered with the department this number increase every year.It is reported that approximately 10.6 million workers are employed by the private and non government sectors in Malaysia.  The Labour Department conducts about 55,000 inspection workplaces annually.  Effective labour inspection is expected to improve the level of compliance of the. laws among the employers

Registration of Workplaces  Under section 63A of the Employment Act 1955,employers are required within 90 days notify the nearest labour office of its operation in which any employee is employed or is likely to be employed.  The registration of workplaces will facitate to the labour inspection activities.  Any person or employer who fails to give notice as required by the Act commits an offence. Retrenchment Retrenchment refers to the termination of contract of service due to business closure, redundancy, company restructuring, reduce in production, merger, change in technology, company's acquisition or economic recession.

Before exercising retrenchment, voluntary separation scheme or lay-off, employers have to notify the Labour Department. This must be done not later than 30 days before the retrenchment takes place. Notification can be done by submitting Form PK from every manager that want to take any legal action to his employee at the nearest Labour Office.

Upon receiving the notification Labour Department will take necessary actions such as making sure that wages, termination benefits and other payments are made to the affected employee.The department also will help in looking for alternative employment

Job's Fair Job Registration and Job Matching

This programme provides an oppurtunity for job seekers to look for job vacancies offered by employers. It is carried out at the national, state and district level throughout Peninsular Malaysia including Labuan. Employers are inivited to participate and encouraged to conduct walk-in interviews so that placement can be done faster.

During job carnival facilities are provided for job seekers to register online via www.jobsmalaysia.gov.my. They can get assistance and advice on how to use the system for proper matching. Special help is also extended to the disabled. Among the visitors of the job carnival are school and university students, school leavers, graduates and employees who would like to look for better career. Tips and guides on how to write resume and how to get ready for interview are also given during talks and briefings. It is hoped that this programme will help Malaysians to get information on jobs vacancies as well as oppurtunity to become entrepreneur. Employers and job seekers who wish to join the carnival should look for announcement and advertisement in www.jobsmalaysia.gov.my