SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA, Jan 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Amendments to the Employment Act 1955 and the increase in the number of childcare centres run by the private sector are expected to encourage more Malaysians to join or rejoin the work force in certain sectors and reduce the dependence on foreign workers.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Maznah Mazlan said here Tuesday that the amendments would, among other issues, allow workers to work on shifts or on a part-time basis apart from enjoying protection in terms of wages, welfare and annual leave.

The amendments were being finalised and the ministry was looking at tabling the amendment Bill in Parliament this year, she told reporters after visiting a childcare centre at national car maker Proton Holdings Berhad in this capital of central Selangor state.

At the moment, there are 6.5 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 comprising women, students, graduands, retirees and the disabled who have the potential to be absorbed into the work force, she said.

She hoped that more employers in the private sector would provide childcare centres to encourage more women to take up employment. She said there used to be 93 childcare centres registered nationwide but now the number had gone down to 16.

“We are looking at optimising the contribution of women in the employment sector, which currently stands at 46 per cent,” she said. — NNN-BERNAMA

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