In conjunction with International Workers’ Memorial Day, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has called on all trade unions and workers in the country to play an active role in ensuring safe workplaces.
“Unions and workers have to come forward without fear or favour to highlight poor working conditions to their respective safety enforcement authorities like the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), MTUC or workplace safety committee, urging them to investigate and to take appropriate action,” MTUC deputy president Matkar Siwang told Bernama today.
This comes in the wake of an alarming number of accidents reported in various workplaces across the country, according to MTUC’s own survey and information received from other parties involved in occupational safety activities.
Workers’ Memorial Day is observed on April 28, an international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured, or made unwell by their work.
Matkar said MTUC would also be organising an event on April 30 as part of the Workers’ Day celebration.
On a separate issue, Matkar urged the government to streamline procedures for permit approvals to enable the speedy repatriation of bodies of foreigners to their home countries.
“If possible we want the relevant authorities to simplify the procedures for issuing permits for repatriation of bodies of foreigners, regardless of the day and time involved. The repatriation of a body is the final journey for a person and any delays will mar the country’s image,” he said.
He was commenting on a recent news report that permits for the repatriation of bodies of foreigners are now only issued from Mondays to Thursdays, as opposed to seven days a week previously.
KL Funeral Services managing director S Paramasarathy said his company, which has more than 35 years of experience in funerals and delivery of bodies or ashes abroad, was now facing problems obtaining such permits during weekends.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
