New labour laws to be introduced shortly: Minister

New labour laws to be introduced shortly: Minister

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Monday, May 5, 2008

THE Ministry of Home Affairs is currently reviewing labour laws to improve work environments and meet international work standards through best practices.The Employment Order will be introduced to replace the current Labour Act 1954, said Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof.Speaking during an event to mark Labour Day at the Kiulap Plaza Hotel on Saturday, the minister said that discussions were held among the ministry, employers and employees in taking best practices from all three parties.No time frame was given on when the new labour laws would be implemented.The minister also exhorted on employees to practice life long learning in acquiring "multiple skills" so that they are more marketable.Quality employees are the backbone of a strong foundation in Brunei's development to compete in the international arena, he said."All employees should be responsible, competent and practice good work ethics, be honest and trustworthy and has a competitive spirit in contributing to the development of an organisation and country," said Pehin Dato Hj Adanan.According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), there is a deficit in decent work in the aspects of unemployment, lack of employees, lack of quality and unproductive work, hazardous working environment and gender inequality.About 200 million people are unemployed in the world, half of them earns US$2 per day. The ILO estimated that about 86 million of the unemployed were youths aged 15-24."The Labour Department has always been associated as a department which wholly functions as releasing licenses for employing foreign workers and private household service license," Hjh Rosliah Hj Hasbollah, acting commissioner of Labour Department. "However the task is really amazing because it can cause risks in the form of abuse of license usage and other impact," she added.She also called out for employers and give priority to locals in preventing unemployment.May 1 is the official date for Labour Day throughout the world. This is the second time in which Brunei has celebrated Labour Day since the country became a member of ILO in January 2007. (SHS1).The Brunei Times