Trained certificate essential for jobs in Malaysia

Athauda Seneviratne, Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment states that a Malaysian Employment trainee certificate is compulsory for employees migrating to Malaysia after the 1st of February and arrangements will be taken to get down Malaysian consultants required for the training programme to Sri Lanka at the end of this month.

These decisions were taken at a discussion held at his ministry on the 8th of December 2005 with Manogrn Paramasiwan, Chief Secretary, Ministry of Human Resources of Malaysia and his delegates who arrived in Sri Lanka in order to look into ways of promoting Malaysian employment opportunities for Sri Lankans.

The Minister stated further that since there are 30 training centres of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment around Sri Lanka they could be utilised for this.

The Minister thanked the Malaysian Government for the provision of jobs to Sri Lanka without a limit and requested the delegates to reduce the rate charged per Malaysian job because the rate is quite high at present and is unbearable for the poor youth of our country.

Manogrn Paramasiwan, Secretary to the Ministry of Human Resources stated that his government is pleased with the services provided by Sri Lankans in his country and he will take necessary steps to discuss this issue with the Government and reduce this rate as soon as he and his delegates arrive in Malaysia.

Minister Seneviratne added that complaints have been received that some institutes do not co-operate in the provision of welfare and other facilities to Sri Lankan employees. The delegates said that those employees could make a complaint to the Ministry of Human Resources of Malaysia personally regarding the establishment which does not provide facilities or they could make a complaint through the Embassy.

He also said that the Malaysian Government has advised relevant officers to take immediate action regarding the complaints made.

Manogrn Paramasiwan further said that the employee making the complaint should be working in the establishment at the time the complaint is made and added that running away from the workplace is illegal and complaints made by such a person will not be looked into.

Government officers including Mahinda Madihahewa, Secretary to the Ministry of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Jagath Wellawatta - Chairman, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and Mrs. Chandani Senaratne General Manager, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment participated on this occasion in addition to delegates of about 10 government ministries of Malaysia.