Visit of Y.B. Datuk Seri Dr. Fong Chan Onn, Minister of Human Resource to Chile,
2-5 December 2006
The Ministry of Labour of Chile
Courtesy call on the Chilean Minister of Labour
Briefings given at Ministry of Labour
Touring the Cultural Center below the presidential palace
A carriage ride at Tarapaca Vineyard
Dinner in honour of Y.B. Datuk Seri Dr. Fong Chan Onn at the Residence
Y.B. Datuk Seri Dr. Fong Chan Onn, Minister of Human Resource made a working visit to Chile on 2-5 December 2006.
Datuk Seri was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Tan Lay Hwa, Mr. Romli bin Haji Hassan, Director General of Manpower Department, YBhg. Datuk Yau De Piyau, Chief Executive of Human Resource Development Fund, Mr. Andrew Francis Tan, General Manager of Investment and Property of PERKESO, Mr. Tiew Hai San, Senior Private Secretary to the Minister and Mr. Mohd Faizal Abdul Hamid, Assistant Secretary of Ministry of Human Resources.
Datuk Fong called on H.E. Mr. Osvaldo Andrade, the Minister of Labour and Social Security of Chile and had a useful exchange of views on each country labour practices and regulation. H.E. Mr. Osvaldo Andrade was very pleased to receive Datuk Fong and informed Datuk Fong that his Ministry is in the midst of tabling to the Senate a new bill regarding labour reforms to provide better social welfare and at the same time give some more flexibility to the labour market. Datuk Fong was further briefed by the two Under Secretaries (Deputy Ministers) - the Undersecretary of Labour and the Undersecretary of Social Security, in reemployment training, pension scheme and socio-welfare schemes.
The visit provided an insight into the workings of privatized social welfare system and a privatized contributory pension system works. While the social security coverage and benefits are similar to Malaysia's PERKESO, the pension system here is very different. Whereas in Malaysia, the pension fund is administrated by the Government through the Employment Provident Fund (EPF), the pension funds in Chile are being run by the private sectors. Currently, there are seven private pension fund companies in Chile offering five different kinds of pension/retirement schemes. On Labour practices and employment retraining programmes, both Malaysia and Chile share similar programmes set up to tackle youth unemployment.
Overall, the visit was a success as both parties have had the opportunity to learn from each other's experience.
Embassy of Malaysia, Santiago.
www.kln.gov.my/perwakilan/santiago