KUCHING, Aug 23: Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak today expressed its disappointment with the announcement of the State Cabinet yesterday which did not include human resources development.
MTUC Sarawak secretary Andrew Lo said out of the 29 state Ministers and Assistant Ministers, not a single one is responsible for human resources.
“MTUC is deeply disappointed that Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg) has again neglected to focus on human resources development when he ignored calls to appoint at least an assistant minister to be in charge of human resources,” he emphasised in a media release.
Stressing that human resources development is key to the progress of the state and Sarawakians, he said capitalising on skills training of Sarawakians was vital.
“We need to create a skilled workforce, propel human capital development and to address long-standing issues on foreign workers, labour productivity, job empowerment, industrial relations and to develop a holistic blueprint of our human capital needs,” he pointed out.
“This will ensure that ordinary Sarawakians can share in the state wealth. Sixty years of such neglect has resulted in the lack of decent jobs in Sarawak, so much so that Sarawakians have to find jobs outside the state,” he added.
Lo also criticised the setting up of the Ministry of Transport and overlooking the development of human capital.
“(There is)..no point to focus just on transport that we may end up being used by foreign workers,” he observed.— DayakDaily
