Latest news with #trainees
CNA
a day ago
- Business
- CNA
MOM investigating allegations of companies misusing passes for hiring foreign students, trainees
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is investigating allegations that companies are misusing a pass that permits employers to hire foreign students and intra-corporate trainees for up to three months. In response to queries from CNA, MOM said that it takes these claims of misuse of the Training Employment Pass (TEP) "seriously" and is already investigating the matter. It has also completed its investigations in some cases. CNA has asked the ministry what the outcomes of the completed investigations were. According to MOM, the TEP allows foreigners to undergo practical training for professional, managerial, executive or specialist jobs in Singapore. Companies can apply for this pass if they wish to hire a foreign student or a trainee from a foreign office or subsidiary. The ministry said that it does "additional checks and audits" on "selected" TEP applications, by asking for proof of training programmes and foreign offices or subsidiaries. To hire a foreign student, their training attachment in Singapore must be part of their course of study, and they must be studying at an "acceptable institution" or earn a "fixed monthly salary" of at least S$3,000 (US$2,330), said the ministry. To hire a trainee from a foreign office or subsidiary, they must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000. In an article titled "Management executives washing dishes" non-profit Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) posted on its website last month, it said that it had seen 13 workers on such passes between Dec 1 last year and Apr 26 this year. "We have never before seen so many workers on this kind of work pass in such a short time. Nearly all of them complained about salary irregularities, but at least one of them pointed to long working hours as his biggest problem," the article said. "However, when we found out more about the circumstances which led to their working in Singapore, we could see the contours of a rapidly widening job scam." According to TWC2, five of the individuals were sent to work in a food and beverage establishment, five in a warehouse, two at cleaning companies and one at a company described as a "tour coach agency". The men were paid less than what was stated in their in-principle agreements, worked "horrendous hours", would be put to work almost immediately upon arrival in Singapore and would not be sent to MOM for the mandatory step of the issuance of the TEP until nearly 30 days after arrival, alleged the non-profit. "MOM will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant employers who misuse TEPs to circumvent our work pass framework," the ministry added. "This includes suspending errant employers' work pass privileges, administering financial penalties or even prosecution depending on the severity of the breach. Affected workers may reach out to MOM for assistance."
Free Malaysia Today
15-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Jail time, fine await national service no-shows, trainees warned
The failure of trainees to report for national service training without a valid reason is a punishable offence. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The defence ministry has reminded individuals selected for the national service training programme (PLKN) that those who do not show up without a valid reason could be punished with jail time and a fine. The ministry's national service department said trainees must report to the PLKN camp by 12pm tomorrow, as stated in their call-up letters. 'Failure to report for duty without a valid reason, or evidence of health issues confirmed by a medical expert, is considered as defying orders,' it said in a statement. The department added that those who disobey orders can be punished under Section 18(1) of the National Service Training Act, which provides for a maximum RM3,000 fine, up to six months in prison, or both, if convicted. It added that inciting or persuading trainees to not show up for PLKN is also an offence under Section 19(2) of the Act, also punishable by a maximum fine of RM3,000, up to six months in prison, or both, upon conviction. Earlier this week, there were reports that 206 PLKN trainees failed to show up at their respective camps on Monday. They have until 12pm tomorrow to report in. Last Sunday, it was reported that male trainees are based at the 505 Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Pekan, Pahang, and female trainees at the 515 Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Kuala Lumpur. PLKN is being gradually reintroduced in its third iteration to foster patriotism, unity and personal resilience among Malaysian youth, while equipping them with the physical and mental fortitude to face life's challenges.
Japan Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
JR East to start training foreign nationals under new skills program
East Japan Railway (JR East) will launch training programs in the current fiscal year to March next year for foreign nationals seeking certification as specified skilled workers in railway maintenance. The training follows the addition of the railway sector in March 2024 to the list of eligible industries under Japan's specified skilled worker system, which is designed to secure work-ready personnel from overseas amid acute labor shortages. JR East is also encouraging other railway operators to join the initiative. On March 5, the company conducted trial training sessions for 25 trainees from Indonesia and Vietnam at its large-scale training center in Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture. The training, which was open to the media, covered the three areas of rolling stock, tracks and electrical facilities. Participants learned about the mechanisms of train doors using a model and practiced operating an electrical device for switching tracks. The sessions were conducted in Japanese, occasionally involving complex technical terms. "We try to rephrase (technical language) into simpler Japanese as much as possible," one instructor explained. To obtain residency status in Japan as a specified skilled worker, trainees must pass an examination administered by an industry association. The training program, which lasts about four weeks, is designed to prepare participants for the exam. Those who successfully pass are expected to work primarily at partner companies of JR East starting this summer. "Railway services in my country are inconvenient, so I came here to learn and make a difference," Agis Hadi Rahayu, a 26-year-old trainee from Indonesia, said in Japanese. "I want to work as long as possible and become a professional engineer." JR East covers the cost of the training, including travel and accommodation expenses. "We hope to develop this into an open platform that helps secure human resources for the entire railway industry," said Naoyuki Sakaguchi, manager of the company's human resources development unit. JR East aims to train around 100 people each year, and more than 10 railway operators have already expressed interest in joining the initiative, according to Sakaguchi. The inclusion of the railway sector in Japan's specified foreign skilled worker system reflects a growing shortage of track maintenance engineers, a problem that has led to daytime train service suspensions and the rescheduling of last-train departures to allow for maintenance work. According to government estimates, the railway industry is projected to face a labor shortage of about 18,400 workers by fiscal 2028, largely due to difficulties in hiring young people amid the low national birth rate. To help address the shortfall, the industry plans to accept up to 3,800 specified skilled foreign workers. There are two types of residency status for specified skilled foreign workers in Japan: Type 1, which allows stays of up to five years, and Type 2, which has no time limit. Currently, only Type 1 is available for the railway sector. "Many people would be willing to take on the challenge if Type 2 status were available," Sakaguchi said, expressing hope that the railway industry will eventually become eligible for Type 2 to enable long-term employment. Those who complete a mid-level technical internship program are also eligible for certification as specified skilled foreign workers. In November last year, a Vietnamese woman who had worked as a technical intern at Surmit Kogyo, a railway vehicle manufacturer in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, became the first individual to be granted residency status as a specified skilled foreign worker in the railway industry. In the railway sector, specified skilled foreign workers will be welcomed not only for maintenance work and vehicle manufacturing but also for transportation roles such as conductors and drivers. Given a growing shortage of drivers, particularly among local railway operators, non-Japanese drivers with specified skills may take the controls in the future.
Free Malaysia Today
11-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Male, female trainees undergo same training modules, says national service chief
For the second batch of national service training 3.0 beginning today, male trainees are based at the 505 Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Pekan, Pahang, and female trainees at the 515 Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Kuala Lumpur. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : All trainees in the second batch of the national service training programme (PLKN) 3.0, which begins today, will undergo the same training modules, despite being placed in two separate camps based on gender. National service training department director-general Ya'cob Samiran said male trainees are based at the 505 Territorial Army Regiment Camp in Pekan, Pahang, and female trainees are at the 515 Territorial Army Regiment Camp here. 'There is no difference in the training content. Any variation will only relate to the physical capabilities and health conditions of the individual trainees. 'Physical training will be conducted in stages and based on increasing levels of difficulty,' he said during a media briefing after observing the registration of female trainees at the 515 Territorial Army Camp today. He added that the core structure of the training modules has been retained, with several enhancements made compared with those used for the first batch of trainees under PLKN 3.0 earlier this year. 'The training modules are still 70% military-based and 30% national identity components, with slight enhancements in execution through more hands-on practical sessions,' he said. Commenting on today's registration process, Ya'cob said that 550 trainees, comprising 350 males and 200 females, are expected to take part in this PLKN session, which runs for 45 days until June 24. He said the registration process is expected to take two to three days, as many trainees have requested late registration due to issues such as camp location or personal preparedness. Ya'cob added that the national service programme is open to accepting voluntary trainees, subject to available slots, and confirmed that 30 voluntary participants have already registered. There were 116 trainees in the first batch under PLKN 3.0, which ran for 45 days from Jan 12 to Feb 25 at the 515 Territorial Army Regiment Camp here. Taking place after a seven-year suspension, it involved 73 male and 43 female trainees aged between 18 and 25. The gradual reintroduction of the national service programme aims to foster patriotism, national unity and personal resilience among Malaysian youth, while equipping them with the physical and mental fortitude to face life's challenges.
