Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam said today he hoped that the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC)would understand the reason for amending the Employment Act 1955 and not issue confusing statements leading to picketing against it.

He said the proposal for the amendment was requested by the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW).

NONE The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2010 was approved by the Dewan Rakyat last week.

Subramaniam ( right ) said the NUPW had complained to the ministry that many plantation workers faced problems associated with payment of wages, contribution to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and so on.

"The amendment was proposed to enable the ministry control outsourcing and contract workers from abroad and, at the same time, protect local plantation workers," he said.

However, MTUC and several other quarters had charged that the ministry's move had resulted in a reduction in the number of permanent workers from among the local people, he told a news conference after opening the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) conference on 'Employer-Employee Relationship: Be on the Right Track' at Bandar Sunway in Petaling Jaya.

Also present was MEF president Azman Shah Haron.

Subramaniam said it was sad that the MTUC wanted to go ahead with the picketing on Nov 3 and added that the ministry would seek to resolve the issue through negotiation.

On Oct 3, the MTUC protested against the amendment and sent a letter to Subramaniam requesting a postponement.

Meanwhile, on the freeze on Indonesian maids coming to Malaysia, he said he had raised the matter at a recent Cabinet meeting.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia are to discuss the matter at their annual consultation scheduled for Oct 20 in Lombok, Indonesia.

- Bernama