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This policy will cover the health and safety aspects of workers, according to an update by Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar.
Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) is in the process of developing a National Human Resource Policy that covers the health and safety aspects of workers, according to an update by Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar.
At the same time, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will be introducing an employee assistance programme (EAP) that will serve as an early screening for any issues employees may be facing, to ensure their work performance is not affected.
Minister Sivakumar commented: "The Ministry of Human Resources always takes mental health matters seriously in the workplace.
"I hope that the level of awareness and stigma among the society regarding mental health problems can be increased for the sake of mental wellbeing of all Malaysians."
As cited by Bernama, Minister Sivakumar shared that the reported number of psychological cases, which describes the relationship between social conditions and a person's mental or emotional health in the workplace, is low at the moment, because of the low level of awareness in the country.
Thus, the need for such a policy in place.
In that vein, in conjunction with World Mental Health Day in October, the NIOSH and National Centre for Mental Health Excellence (NCEMH) have partnered to address the matter in the workplace.
Under this partnership, the NIOSH and NCEMH have organised the Healthy Mind Live Wellbeing Programme and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchange on 1 November 2023.
MOHR to expand Invalidity Scheme
On the topic of employee welfare, the Ministry of Human Resources will expand its Invalidity Scheme to foreign workers in the country to ensure they too are covered by the benefits of the scheme.
However, as cited by MalayMail, Minister Sivakumar clarified that the matter is still being scrutinised before it will come into effect.
“The ministry is finalising plans to expand the Invalidity Scheme that is provided through the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4) so that it also covers foreign workers brought into the country.
“This is to increase the level of social protection network and provide justice to workers serving in the various sectors and industries, including foreign workers in the country," the Minister was cited as saying.
Lead image / Minister of Human Resources V. Sivakumar
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