EMPLOYERS TO THINK WORKERS' WELFARE

KOTA KINABALU: Employers should also think about their workers’ welfare before embarking on any move, including to reduce operational costs, in facing the current economic uncertainties, Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan said Thursday.

Don’t terminate the workers’ service or cut their salary only because the company wants to reduce operations cost in this current situation,” he told reporters at his Christmas open house here,Instead, he said, employers could introduce reforms aimed at reducing their costs.
He said this in response to a statement by Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam on Monday for employers intending to impose salary cut, terminate or offer the volunteer separation scheme (VSS) to their workers to notify the Manpower Department of their intention 30 days in advance.
Kitingan also advised the Sabah people to seize opportunities provided by the government for training in agriculture and manufacturing sectors where there were demand for skilled workers.