Amending 9 worksite laws for better safety

> DOSH to get more power to pursue errant parties

GEORGE TOWN: The Human Resources Ministry will amend at least nine worksiterelated legislation by early next year in a move to curb lapses in worksite safety.

This follows last Friday’s deadly landslide that killed nine foreign construction workers while one remains missing.

Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran ( pix) said the amendments will empower the Department of Occupational Health and Safety (DOSH) to go after errant designers, land owners, developers and various categories of contractors.

Currently, DOSH is only able to act against the main contractor, Kulasegaran told a press conference after visiting the site of the landslide in Jalan Bukit Kukus.

Kulasegaran said the amendments were necessary as some legislation were about 30 to 40 years old.

The penalties for negligence will also be revised from the present maximum of RM50,000 to RM500,000, with two years’ imprisonment proposed.

Besides that, Kulasegaran also announced that the ministry will seek to beef up DOSH with the latest equipment to monitor safety at sensitive work sites.

Kulasegaran also spoke about working together with the private sector to reduce the hiring of illegal workers, particularly at construction sites.

“We may just be breaching the tip of the iceberg concerning illegals and worksite mishaps.”

There are 1.9 million registered foreign workers although some quarters are claiming that another one million are working and living in the country illegally.

Kulasegaran said the proposal to allow foreigners to be entitled to Socso benefits compared to the present where foreigners are only entitled to a one-off compensation payment.

By early next year, all foreigners working here, including domestic helpers, will be entitled to the scheme, where they will be entitled to a lifetime pension if they suffer injuries while at work or while commuting to or from their place of employment.