KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) yesterday expressed its disappointment with the 2010 Budget, saying it did not address pertinent labour issues.
Its general secretary, G. Rajasekaran pointed out that there were nothing relating to dependency on foreign workers and minimum wage in the annual financial document.
He said the congress had expected the government to come out with provisions to attract local workers and reduce foreign workers dependency.
Rajasekaran said no incentives were also seen for women to attract them to join the country's workforce.
Citing government statistics, he said only about 46 per cent of women in the country are working. The remainder chose not to work for a number of reasons, including family responsibilities.
Rajasekaran added that the MTUC had expected the government to introduce provisions, such as community child care centres near homes as well as increasing the salaries of women workers, in a bid to attract women to be involved in country's work force.
There was also no mention of the retirement age for the private sector.
On the positive side, Rajasekaran said the MTUC welcomed the additional RM1,000 tax relief announced.
"It is good that the margin has been raised. Though the cost of living is still high, but nevertheless it is some relief."
Rajasekaran also welcomed the move to revert back the employer's Employee Provident Fund to its original figure of 11 per cent beginning next year.
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