BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

LOCAL private sector employees will be able to earn and enjoy the same benefits that their foreign counterparts get if stakeholders and employers adapt the Home Affairs ministry’s ‘Fair package’ paper.

The paper, which addresses the low wages of local employees and differences in benefits packages for local and foreign staff, proposes to balance out the differences.

The effort gained favourable support from Yang Berhormat Datin Paduka Hajah Salbiah Hj Sulaiman who hoped that the paper will garner positive responses from stakeholders.

“Stakeholders or employers will surely cooperate if it is approached in a manner that is beneficial for all parties involved as was shown during the previous job fairs,” said the minister expressing his gratitude to YB Datin Paduka Hjh Salbiah for her support in the matter.

“I am confident that we can successfully negotiate with stakeholders the possibility of providing fair and equal benefits and salary packages to employees,” said the minister.

YB Datin Paduka Hajah Salbiah also brought up the issue regarding the Employment Act 2009 which does not include compensation for workers injured on the job and lose the ability to work or even loss of life. “This issue needs to be looked into by the Labour Department,” urged YB Datin Paduka Hjh Salbiah.

“When the Employment Act 2009 was established, the safety of local employees was included however compensation was not mentioned.

“Measures to include this condition were made last year and I can confirm that it is in its final stages, InsyaAllah it will be implemented into the Employment Act 2009,” said YB Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Awang Badaruddin.

The Brunei Times