Minimum Wages Order opens up job opportunities for local youths

The implementation of the 2016 Minimum Wages Order in July is expected to lure more locals to grab the employment opportunities which have been enjoyed by about 1.9 million registered foreign workers all this while.

Deputy Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib said the foreign workers were involved in industries categories as 3D - dangerous, dirty and difficult.

"Nonetheless, with the implementation of the new minimum wage, we will slowly encourage local youths to enter the industries and improve their skills to become skilled workers.

"This is in line with the ministry's target to have 35 per cent local workers becoming skilled workers by 2020. We have so far achieved 28 per cent," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after opening the 2016 World Day for Safety and Health at Workplace celebration here Tuesday which was attended by the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services president Datuk Azih Muda.

Meanwhile, Ismail said the accident rate involving workers going to and from work showed a slight increase of 554 cases last year compared to 2014.

He said there were 28,591 cases of accidents involving commuting workers recorded in 2015 compared to 28,037 cases in 2014.

"However, the overall number reported last year was down by 2.81 per cent per 1,000 workers compared to 3.10 per cent per 1,000 workers for 2014," he said.

The celebration organised by the National Council of Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH) with the cooperation of the Terengganu Manpower Department was attended by 300 workers and employers from various government agencies and the private sector from all over the country.