BY: AKMAL AZIZ

In what activists describe as a long awaited triumph for justice, especially non governmental organisations providing advocacy for foreign workers, the move to grant them Employees Provident Fund (EPF) status is seen as long overdue.

But business councils are asking for the proposal to be deferred as the economy is sluggish which is seen as a poor and weak motive by activists who cite the many cases of exploitation and bullying of migrant workers.

Activists state that the playing field for employment of any worker, whether local or foreign, must be level and there must not be any discrimination practised and instead there should be fairplay, justice and meritocracy.

Foreign envoys who have their people working in Malaysia also welcomed the move as timely as it will provide an old age or retirement saving plan for their people which is considered fair given they work as hard as the locals.

But businesspersons are in a flux and they cite the reason that if they have to contribute to the EPF of foreign workers it will eat at their profits and in some cases make the effort of doing business unworthy or unprofitable.

But activists called for egalitarian values to prevail and for all workers to be compensated by a just remuneration based on their job duties and specifications and other deliverables to ensure there is fairness for all employees.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher