KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- A guidebook on the setting up of a
nursery at the workplace, and in a housing area and the community for private
sector employers is now available.
Deputy Human Resource Minister Maznah Mazlan said the guidebook would enable
intended employers to adhere to procedures as it would help women leave their
children in good hands while at work.
"The setting of nurseries at the workplace, and in a housing area and the
community is one of the ways to reduce dependence on foreign maids.
"It is also in line with the employer''s corporate social responsibility to
create a concerned society," she said to a question from Senator Mariany
Mohammad Yit at the Dewan Negara today.
Maznah said the ministry was making preparations to train locals in the
domestic help sector by formulating the National Employment Skills Standard on
efficiency and competency levels in implementing a task while at work.
--MORE
SENATE-NURSERY 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
"With this standard, locals can be trained while the certification will help
raise the confidence of employers in hiring local maids and to make domestic
helper a respectable job," she said.
She said however, the response from locals was not encouraging although
several local firms had been commissioned to train local workers in the field.
"As such, the ministry will redouble its effort to promote the job by
rebranding it, defining its tasks, introducing a commensurate salary structure
and offering services either full time, daily or part-time," she said, adding
that a study would be conducted by the Labour Department on ways to entice
locals to work in the field.
-- BERNAMA
CS LES AZ MB