PUTRAJAYA: The eWages system will be implemented to monitor the payment of salaries to foreign workers, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

       He said his Ministry had proposed the implementation of eWages which was agreed by the Cabinet on Jan 12.

       "Once implemented, the system will allow authorities to monitor the prompt payment of wages to foreign workers," he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 28).

       Saravanan said the Ministry was also in the midst of planning to regulate and introduce a centralised labour quarters (CLQ) within five years.

       "This is meant for an effective and coordinated supervision of foreign workers," he added.

       Saravaan said that as a member of the International Labour Organisation, Malaysia strictly observes its 11 indicators on forced labour which also covers the aspect of conducive living conditions for workers.

       "Hence, the Ministry has made it compulsory for employers to fully comply with the Standard Minimum of Housing and Amenities Act as a mandatory requirement to employ foreign workers," he said.

       On Jan 30, the Minister said that a meeting would be held with companies subjected to the export ban imposed by the United States Customs and Border Protection (US CBP), to discuss immediate action that could be taken to resolve claims on forced labour in the country.

       The US CBP had issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) on several local companies and seized oil palm products by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad and its subsidiaries. The order was also imposed on YTY Group’s rubber glove products.

       Savanan said as the chair of the committee on labour trafficking under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council, the Ministry had undertaken various means to address the issue, including the implementation of the National Action Plan on Forced Labour 2021-2025.

       On foreign workers, the minister said that to date, the Ministry had concluded and signed memoranda of understanding with 10 source countries, the first being signed with China in 2003.

       He said the ministry was in the midst of finalising the MOUs that had expired, adding that a MOU was inked with Bangladesh in November of last year.

       "The conclusion of the MoU on Indonesian Domestic Workers is in the pipeline after getting the official nod from the Cabinet on Feb 23.

       "The MoU with Vietnam, Cambodia, India, and Sri Lanka are currently in the final stages of discussions, all of which have lapsed during the implementation of the movement control order due to the pandemic," he said.