Public sector's attractive salary/pension scheme is attractive: Subra

The more attractive salary scheme and pension system has made more people interested to join the public sector, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.

"The public sector has undergone big changes within a short time, the salary and benefits for drivers and clerks in the public sector, for example, is better compared to the private sector.

"Hence, public sector employees should appreciate the advantages given by the government and they should serve better," he told reporters after launching World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2009 here yesterday.

He was commenting on Cuepacs' call on the government to allow public sector employees to withdraw five to 10 per cent of their gratuity before retirement.

Cuepacs president Omar Osman said on Monday that the proposal was aimed at lightening the burden of civil servants especially during the economic slowdown.
Subramaniam also said the government planned to relook the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 to ensure employers comply with the requirement for them to have a safety and health officer.

Having such an officer was compulsory but some employers did not have one, he said. "Perhaps there are several methods or things that need to be relooked to make sure employers heed and comply with the directive," he said.

He also said that the ministry was publishing a guidebook on how to manage occupational safety and health in four languages, namely Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil.

The objective was to help employers know what was needed and where to find information on occupational safety and health, he said. - BERNAMA