Latest news with #DepartmentofIndustrialRelations
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Mediation saves RM60 million in workplace disputes, says HR minister
GEORGE TOWN: Mediation has proven to be a cost-effective and efficient method for resolving workplace disputes, saving employers and employees millions while fostering industrial harmony. Human Resource Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong highlighted that 65 per cent of cases referred to the Department of Industrial Relations were successfully resolved through mediation in 2024, preventing unnecessary legal battles. Speaking at the inaugural Industrial Mediation Symposium 2025, Sim noted that mediation handled over 3,000 cases this year, reducing the burden on the Industrial Court. 'If each court case costs RM20,000 for both parties, mediation has saved more than RM60 million in 2024 alone,' he said. Before disputes escalate to court, the Department of Industrial Relations employs alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, primarily conciliation meetings, to settle conflicts amicably. Currently, 122 industrial relations officers (IROs) trained in professional mediation assist workers and employers in reaching swift resolutions. Sim emphasised the ministry's commitment to enhancing mediation expertise through partnerships with international bodies like the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and local institutions such as the Kuala Lumpur Mediation Centre and the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF). Since 2024, collaboration with the US Department of Labour has further strengthened officers' mediation skills. The symposium, organised by the Society of JP Community Mediators Penang (SJPCMP) alongside the JP Mediation Bureau Penang and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), aimed to promote mediation as a key tool for workplace conflict resolution.
Barnama
a day ago
- Business
- Barnama
Mediation Key To Industrial Harmony, Cost Savings In Workplace Disputes
REGION - NORTHERN > NEWS GEORGE TOWN, June 27 (Bernama) -- Mediation, as a primary mechanism for resolving workplace disputes, helps save time and costs while preserving industrial harmony. Human Resource Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong stated that industrial relations officers (IRO) under the ministry successfully resolved 65 per cent of cases referred to the director-general of the Department of Industrial Relations annually via mediation, representing over 3,000 cases in 2024. "In other words, only 35 per cent of disputes proceeded to the Industrial Court. bootstrap slideshow "If each case appearing before the court costs both employers and employees about RM20,000, we are looking at cost savings of more than RM60 million in 2024 alone," he said in his keynote address at the inaugural Industrial Mediation Symposium 2025 held here recently. Sim added that even before cases are referred to the Industrial Court, the Department of Industrial Relations under the ministry employs alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, primarily through conciliation meetings, to settle disputes amicably. Currently, he said, 122 IROs under the ministry serve as conciliators to help workers and employers resolve conflicts swiftly and peacefully. Sim said these officers receive professional mediation training through collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at the International Training Centre in Turin, Italy, as well as other institutions such as the Kuala Lumpur Mediation Centre and the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF). Beginning in 2024, he said, the Human Resource Ministry also partnered with the United States Department of Labour to further strengthen its officers' capacity in industrial mediation. The one-day symposium on June 21 was organised by the Society of JP Community Mediators Penang (SJPCMP), in collaboration with the JP Mediation Bureau Penang and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
California puts $25 million toward worker safety outreach amid fire rebuilding efforts
California officials on Tuesday announced $25 million in funding to help community organizations educate workers about their rights and workplace safety. Los Angeles area organizations were prioritized for a chunk of the funds — $6 million — to support workers involved in cleanup and rebuilding efforts after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires. Read more: Behind the staggering economic toll of the L.A. wildfires California's Department of Industrial Relations will allocate funds to 89 community organizations across the state, with some 21 in Los Angeles. The funding is part of a program called the California Workplace Outreach Project, first launched in 2021 to address COVID-19-related workplace risks. "California is implementing a unique model that leverages trusted local messengers to communicate directly with workers," said California Labor Secretary Steward Knox in a Tuesday statement. Organizations may be able to renew the funding for a second year, with a total of $49 million set aside for a two-year funding cycle, according to the Department of Industrial Relations. Fire-damaged properties can pose dangers to workers, rife with hazardous waste and harmful chemicals. With many immigrant workers having lost jobs as nannies, gardeners, housekeepers, plumbers and pool cleaners as a result of the fires, advocates say some may be forced to undertake dangerous fire cleanup jobs, at times without proper training or equipment. At the same time, these low-wage workers might also grapple with problems of wage theft, discrimination, retaliation, anti-immigrant sentiment or other issues, said Nancy Zuniga, health program manager at a group that supports day laborers called the Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California, also known as IDEPSCA. The outreach is a first step to inform workers of their rights, Zuniga said at a Tuesday morning news conference held at IDEPSCA's office in Pico-Union. "These workers are often left out of all safety nets," Zuniga said. "We are happy to be part of this effort, but we know more is needed." In the aftermath of the 2018 Woolsey fire, IDEPSCA studied its effect on domestic workers in Malibu. More than half of the nearly 200 workers surveyed said they permanently lost their jobs. Many reported instances of being expected to clean up ash, soot and debris without proper training and equipment, and dealt with lingering financial and emotional consequences of the fire for at least two years after. Read more: As debris removal continues in Altadena, residents eager to learn next steps to rebuild A report by UC Berkeley researchers examining California's community-based approach to COVID-19 safety efforts surveyed workers and found they were often distrustful of government entities. Partnering with community organizations was "a crucial strategy for addressing high volumes of workplace issues that traditional regulatory approaches cannot fully tackle alone," the report said. California Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower said that because many cases of wage theft rely on active witnesses rather than violations documented on paper, community groups are essential in keeping workers engaged in the process, which can take months or years. "If we just waited in our office to process claims, we wouldn't be doing our jobs," Garcia-Brower said. "Outreach is not fluff, it's foundational to enforcement." Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
19-03-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
California puts $25 million toward worker safety outreach amid fire rebuilding efforts
California officials on Tuesday announced $25 million in funding to help community organizations educate workers about their rights and workplace safety. Los Angeles area organizations were prioritized for a chunk of the funds — $6 million — to support workers involved in cleanup and rebuilding efforts after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires. California's Department of Industrial Relations will allocate funds to 89 community organizations across the state, with some 21 in Los Angeles. The funding is part of a program called the California Workplace Outreach Project, first launched in 2021 to address COVID-19-related workplace risks. 'California is implementing a unique model that leverages trusted local messengers to communicate directly with workers,' said California Labor Secretary Steward Knox in a Tuesday statement. Organizations may be able to renew the funding for a second year, with a total of $49 million set aside for a two-year funding cycle, according to the Department of Industrial Relations. Fire-damaged properties can pose dangers to workers, rife with hazardous waste and harmful chemicals. With many immigrant workers having lost jobs as nannies, gardeners, housekeepers, plumbers and pool cleaners as a result of the fires, advocates say some may be forced to undertake dangerous fire cleanup jobs, at times without proper training or equipment. At the same time, these low-wage workers might also grapple with problems of wage theft, discrimination, retaliation, anti-immigrant sentiment or other issues, said Nancy Zuniga, health program manager at a group that supports day laborers called the Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California, also known as IDEPSCA. The outreach is a first step to inform workers of their rights, Zuniga said at a Tuesday morning news conference held at IDEPSCA's office in Pico-Union. 'These workers are often left out of all safety nets,' Zuniga said. 'We are happy to be part of this effort, but we know more is needed.' In the aftermath of the 2018 Woolsey fire, IDEPSCA studied its effect on domestic workers in Malibu. More than half of the nearly 200 workers surveyed said they permanently lost their jobs. Many reported instances of being expected to clean up ash, soot and debris without proper training and equipment, and dealt with lingering financial and emotional consequences of the fire for at least two years after. A report by UC Berkeley researchers examining California's community-based approach to COVID-19 safety efforts surveyed workers and found they were often distrustful of government entities. Partnering with community organizations was 'a crucial strategy for addressing high volumes of workplace issues that traditional regulatory approaches cannot fully tackle alone,' the report said. California Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower said that because many cases of wage theft rely on active witnesses rather than violations documented on paper, community groups are essential in keeping workers engaged in the process, which can take months or years. 'If we just waited in our office to process claims, we wouldn't be doing our jobs,' Garcia-Brower said. 'Outreach is not fluff, it's foundational to enforcement.'
