Latest news with #937
New Straits Times
09-08-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
One in five workers has no workplace accident coverage
KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly one in five Malaysian workers is not covered by the safety net from the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso). Data gathered through Perkeso's enforcement operations revealed that between 17 and 20 per cent of employers have yet to register their workers for the work protection schemes. "This means that in any random inspection, nearly one in every five workers is without workplace accident coverage due to employers' non-compliance," said Perkeso group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed. He added that although there was no data on the number of unregistered workers, Perkeso currently had 10.05 million active employees in its records. The number comprised Malaysian and foreign workers in the private sector, as well as contract and temporary workers in the civil service. But that figure is about 2.5 million short of the total 12.56 million employees (Malaysian, foreign and contract civil service workers) reported by the Statistics Department in May. Non-compliance among Malaysian employers, said Azman, was rampant in the hospitality, food and beverage (F&B), manufacturing, wholesale and retail sectors. He said 17,482 summonses or compound notices had been issued to errant employers from 2022 to this year. The organisation, he said, had collected RM3,937,555 in fines since 2020, with modern technologies available, employers should not trifle with their contributions. Azman said Perkeso could employ data-matching, smart analytics and cross-agency collaborations to detect irregularities or missing contributions by employers trying to dodge their responsibilities. The organisation also conducted routine and targeted inspections, as well as special operations, besides following up on complaints and whistleblower reports. "Typically, an initial review is conducted within three to seven working days upon receiving a complaint. "Depending on complexity, most cases are resolved within 30 days. "However, if legal action is required, such as taking the employer to court, the process may take longer due to legal procedures and timelines," he said, adding that while Perkeso treated all complaints equally, cases involving a larger group of workers might be prioritised due to their wider impact. In the case of foreign workers, Azman said Perkeso was still determining the latest compliance rate among employers, pending cross-data validation with the Immigration Department. Azman said estimating the number of unregistered foreign workers was challenging due to constant new entries, renewals, repatriations and database discrepancies, but Perkeso was working to improve its data alignment with relevant agencies. A key measure included integrating its system with the Immigration Department to require employers to register their foreign workers for workplace coverage before work permits were issued by the latter. "This proactive approach aims to ensure that all eligible foreign workers are covered under Malaysia's social protection system from the outset of employment," he said. Azman said industries with the highest non-compliance rates in registering foreign workers were construction, plantation and agriculture, manufacturing, and services such as cleaning, hospitality and security. "These industries often rely heavily on foreign labour, including contract or casual workers, which can contribute to under-registration and non-compliance," he said. Azman said many employers cited ignorance or confusion of the process for not registering their foreign workers. "They assume that coverage under a private insurance scheme is sufficient or perceive that foreign workers are temporary or short-term hires and thus, not required to register. "Cost-related concerns, administrative oversight or failure to update employment records are also factors of non-compliance," he said. To address this, Perkeso had intensified enforcement in high-risk industries with the Labour and Immigration Departments, besides running multilingual awareness campaigns and engaging industry groups to drive compliance. It provides advisory support to help employers, especially small and medium-scale enterprises, resolve technical barriers in registration. It is also integrating its MYFutureJobs database with the Immigration Department's Expatriate Pass Application System to identify unregistered foreign workers based on work permit issuances and job placements.
New Straits Times
06-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Palm rises on strong rival oils, set for fourth weekly gain
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian palm oil futures opened higher on Friday, and were set for a fourth consecutive weekly gain, buoyed by stronger rival edible oils, but weaker crude oil prices capped the rise. The benchmark palm oil contract for August delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange added RM34, or 0.87 per cent, to RM3,937 (US$930.73) a metric ton in early trade. The contract has risen 1.11 per cent so far this week. FUNDAMENTALS Dalian's most-active soyoil contract rose 0.89 per cent, while its palm oil contract added 0.79 per cent. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) gained 1.41 per cent. Palm oil tracks the price movements of rival edible oils as it competes for a share of the global vegetable oils market. Oil prices slipped but were on track for their first weekly gain in three weeks after US President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping resumed trade talks, raising hopes for growth and stronger demand in the world's two largest economies. Weaker crude oil futures make palm a less attractive option for biodiesel feedstock. The ringgit, palm's currency of trade, weakened 0.07 per cent against the dollar, making the commodity slightly cheaper for buyers holding foreign currencies. Chicago soybean extended its climb to the fourth straight session and was set for a weekly gain on expectations of improved US-China trade ties, fuelled by the phone call between the leaders of the two countries. Asian shares were subdued as investors hunkered down for the all-important US payrolls report, while Tesla suffered huge losses on the very public feud between Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Geely Unveils Galaxy A7 EM-i Plug-in Hybrid Sedan with Over 2,100km Driving Range
Geely has officially introduced the Galaxy A7 EM-i, a new plug-in hybrid sedan under its Galaxy sub-brand, aiming to combine high efficiency with extended range in a sleek, modern package. The car, which sits below the Galaxy Star 8 EM-i in the model hierarchy, enters the competitive mid-size sedan segment with a focus on affordability, practicality, and cutting-edge hybrid technology. The Galaxy A7 EM-i promises exceptional fuel economy, consuming just over 2 litres per 100km when running on petrol alone. With its hybrid powertrain, the car is capable of achieving a total driving range of more than 2,100km under certain configurations, according to Geely's internal testing. Designed to appeal to budget-conscious consumers, the model is expected to be priced around 100,000 yuan (RM58,937), positioning it as a compelling option in the growing plug-in hybrid market. Stylistically, the A7 EM-i reflects a strong contemporary aesthetic. A wide LED light bar stretches across the front fascia, linking angular headlamps that give the car an assertive stance. Aggressive lower air intakes reinforce the sporty feel, while the bodywork incorporates sculpted sides and turbine-inspired alloy wheels. Gloss black trim around the windows and a clean rear profile — highlighted by a full-width taillight and subtle ducktail spoiler — round off the striking exterior. Unlike some modern rivals, Geely retains traditional door handles, prioritising practicality over novelty. Inside, the A7 EM-i features a redesigned cabin that blends digital sophistication with ergonomic usability. The dashboard includes a dual-spoke multifunction steering wheel, a prominent digital instrument panel, and a floating central touchscreen infotainment system. Practical elements remain, with rotary media controls, physical climate control buttons, and cleverly concealed cupholders all contributing to user convenience. Under the bonnet, the A7 EM-i utilises a 1.5-litre petrol engine delivering 112hp, working in tandem with an electric motor. While Geely has not released full performance specifications, it is widely expected that the A7 EM-i will share its drivetrain architecture with the larger Star 8 EM-i, which combines a 238hp electric motor with a single-speed DHT transmission and offers a total system output of up to 350hp. Two electric-only variants will be available, with driving ranges of either 60km or 130km on the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). Depending on the selected battery configuration, the total range reaches up to 1,600 km, with one high-capacity version reportedly capable of surpassing 2,100km — an impressive figure in the hybrid category. Geely is expected to confirm final pricing and the official launch date of the Galaxy A7 EM-i in the coming weeks, as anticipation builds around this new contender in the plug-in hybrid market.
Business Insider
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Closing Bell Movers: Okta slips 12% despite earnings beat
In the opening hour of the evening session, U.S. equity futures are little changed, with S&P 500 at 5,937, Nasdaq 100 at 21,462, and Dow Industrials up a marginal 0.1% at 42,442. In energy, WTI Crude is up slightly above $61 per barrel while Gold is off Tuesday's lows at $3,300. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Stocks staged a broad based rally upon returning from Memorial Day holiday, erasing nearly all of last week's correction, as President Trump again backed away from threatening Europe with a trade war starting next month. Treasury yields also retreated as inflation fears abated, while investors further cheered a much better Consumer Confidence readout from the Conference Board, boosting shares of Cyclicals. Airlines and Cruise stocks were especially strong performers within the S&P. In this evening's earnings, cybersecurity name Okta traded down by over 10% despite a beat on Q1 earnings and a lift in guidance as the management signaled 'potential risks related to the uncertain economic environment for the remainder of FY26.' Tomorrow, afterhours results out of Nvidia mark the book-end to the Mag-7 earnings season, while Software investors will also watch the quarterly update from Salesforce. Check out this evening's top movers from around Wall Street, compiled by The Fly. HIGHER AFTER EARNINGS – Vail Resorts (MTN) up 10.4% Box (BOX) up 10.4% ALSO HIGHER – Brooge Energy (BROG) up 83.4% after $884M asset sale to Gulf Navigation Holding Joby (JOBY) up 3.9% as Toyota closes $250M investment DOWN AFTER EARNINGS – Okta (OKTA) down 12.1% Semtech Corporation (SMTC) down 2.1% ALSO LOWER –
Daily Tribune
19-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
BD16.67mln spent on outsourced staff for hospitals and health centres
Twenty companies are supplying 1,430 workers including cleaners, barbers and programmers to Bahrain's hospitals and health centres under contracts worth a combined BD16.67 million, the Ministry of Health has said. The work is spread over 24 agreements signed by government hospitals and primary care centres, covering everything from security and transport to gardening and IT support. Funding comes from Chapter Two of each entity's budget. In a reply to a question by MP Khalid Buanaq, Her Excellency Dr Jaleela bint Al Sayed, the Minister of Health, said the contracts followed the separation of healthcare bodies from the ministry as part of a wider shift to give hospitals and clinics more say in their own dayto-day operations. Each body is now able to make its own arrangements so long as it sticks to the public tender law, its executive rules and the state's financial rulebook. Hospitals signed 13 contracts with nine companies to supply 1,008 workers. The largest of these was a BD3.705 million deal for cleaning Salmaniya Medical Complex. Other sums included BD563,612 for cleaning services at Jidhafs Maternity Hospital and several health centres, BD646,937 for administrative offices, BD34,584 for the Psychiatric Hospital and BD9,900 for Muharraq Special Healthcare Centre. Transport work was covered by a BD192,000 deal for 21 drivers. Laundry duties were filled under a BD327,000 contract for 29 staff.
