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Bank Guarantee for Foreign Workers required by Department of Labour Sarawak

STA Secretariat was given to understand verbally that Bank Guarantee for foreign workers will no longer be required by Department of Labour Sarawak when applying for AP and renewal of Labour Licence.

STA also understand that the Department of Labour Sarawak will not issue a circular on this but has given verbal assurance that the Department of Labour Sarawak will inform companies directly when they apply for AP or renew their Labour Licence.

Press Release

Alleged Sexual Abuse of Penan Women and Girls. Read More

Press Release

Daily wage for General Workers from Indonesia. Read More

Invitation to be Sponsoring Employers under PSMB Apprenticeship Scheme

STA have received a circular from Human Resource Development Berhad/Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB) inviting employers to participate as sponsoring employers under PSMB Apprenticeship Scheme.
 
Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB) has implemented seven apprenticeship schemes since 1996, namely:
 
(a)   Mechatronics;
(b)   Hotel Industry;
(c)   Wood Based Industry (Furniture);
(d)   Plastics Injection Moulding;
(e)   Tool and Die Maker (Mould);
(f)    Tool and Die Maker (Press Tool); and
(g)   Industrial Sewing Machine Technician
 
The Apprenticeship Scheme was implemented with the objective of increasing the supply of skilled workers for industries in the manufacturing and services sector.
 
Under the existing terms and conditions of the Apprenticeship Scheme, apprentices’ course fees are borne by the Government while their monthly allowances during the off-the-job and on-the-job components are borne by sponsoring employers from their levy accounts.  Due to the exemption of HRD levy granted to the textile, electrical and electronics industries for 6 months with effect from 1 February 2009 and reduction in the rate of HRD levy by 50% from 1% to 0.5% to other industries for the period 1 April 2009 until 31 March 2011, for a period of 2 years, apprentices’ monthly allowances will be borne by PSMB beginning June 2010 or until the allocation has been fully utilised, which ever is the earlier.
 
This is to continuously assist employers in the supply of skilled workers required by industries despite having insufficient levy balance.
 
1.    TRAINING CONCEPT
 
       1.1   The Apprenticeship Scheme comprises off-the-job and on-the-job components, which is a combination of theoretical and practical training at approved training
              centres with an emphasis on practical training and structured on-the-job training at the premises of sponsoring employers to reinforce the theoretical concepts                learnt.
 
       1.2   The duration of training ranges from 3 months to 16 months, depending on the type of apprenticeship schemes.
 
       1.3   Upon the successful completion of training, apprentices will be awarded the Malaysian Skills Certificate Level 1 and 2 by the Department of Skills Development.
 
       1.4   The course fee will be borne by the Government while apprentices’ allowances, which ranges from RM350 to RM450 per month during the off-the-job and on-the-               job components will be borne by PSMB.  Sponsoring employers are however required to pay for apprentices’ insurance and consumable training materials.
 
       1.5   Selections of apprentices will be based on interviews conducted by PSMB and sponsoring employers in collaboration with training providers.
  
       1.6   Sponsoring employers are required to employ their sponsoring apprentices on a full-time basis upon the completion of the apprenticeship programmes.
 
2.    APPLICATION PROCEDURE
 
       2.1   Application form to be a sponsoring employer can be downloaded from PSMB’s website at www.hrdf.com.my.  Only two apprentices are allowed per sponsoring                employer.
 
       2.2   Successful sponsoring employers are required to sign an agreement with PSMB on the employment of the sponsoring apprentices upon the completion of their                training.
 
Employers are encouraged to take this opportunity to be sponsoring employers without having to finance apprentices’ monthly allowances during the off-the-job and on-the-job components.
 
For further clarification and assistance on the matter, please contact PSMB Customer Service Call Centre at 03-20964600 or 03-20964819.

Metric Units required on Lacey Act Declaration

The Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) informed us that mertic units (kilograms, meters, square meters, etc) are now required on Lacey Act Declarations. The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will no longer accept counts of items (pieces, boxes, etc) as valid units of measure, which supposed to take effect from 1 May 2010. Due to the response from the industry, APHIS agreed to defer the implementation of this requirement until 1 July 2010 to allow industry to make needed changes to declaration procedures. For details, please refer to the attached Notification from APHIS.

As reported earlier, importers of products made from plants and plant materials such as wooden frames, plywood, veneered panels, kitchenware (furniture will be included after September 2010) are required to declare the plant contents in the products using Form PPQ-505.

STIDC e-IPR System

The Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) has developed online monthly Industrial Production Return (e-IPR) system to facilitate electronic submission and management of monthly industrial production data for the timber industry in Sarawak. Effective 7 June 2010, members are advised to submit monthly production return using e-IPR System accessing through http://www.sarawaktimber.org.my

To register as User to the e-IPR System and for more information, please contact the following personnel at STIDC Kuching:-

Madam Malaya Panggai
Tel: 082-443477 ext 3084
Fax: 082-442691
e-mail: malaya@pusaka.gov.my

2010 & 2011 Council Members

Changes of Birthday Celebration Date for TYT Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak for 2010

STA were informed by Department of Labour Sarawak Ministry of Human Resources that the Sate Government has declared 16 October 2010 as a gazetted public holiday in Sarawak to celebrate the 89th Birthday of TYT Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak. The change was made because the original date of 11 September 2010 is the 2nd day of Hari Raya Puasa/Aidilfitri Celebration.

STA and STA Training Sdn Bhd Vacancies

The Sarawak Timber Association (STA) currently has about 600 member companies. A small team of dedicated staff in the Secretariat executes the work of the Association under the STA Council. Both the Association and one of its wholly-owned companies, STA Training Sdn Bhd. (STAT), are now looking for suitable candidates to fill the following vacant positions. Read More

STA Enterprises Sdn Bhd Vacancy

STA Enterprises Sdn Bhd is a wholly-owned company of the Sarawak Timber Association which owns and manages Wisma STA. The Company is seeking a suitable individual to fill the following vacant position. Read More

Importation of Logs and Lumber/Sawn Timber
STA have received a letter from Department of Agriculture ref No PQS 13/v10/(62) dated 11 January 2010 informing us that the Government through the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) Malaysia has decided that all importation of logs and lumber/sawn timber from ALL countries must be accompanied with (i) Import Permit from Department of Agriculture Malaysia and (ii) Phytosanitary Certificate from the exporting country with effect from 3 November 2009 . Please refer to Appendices A & B for details.

In view of the appeal from relevant parties, a 'grace period' of 6 months is given, ie enforcement of this requirement will be from 1 May 2010. However the current treatment as specified in Appendix A is required for consignments imported during this grace period.

Members are advised to comply to this new requirement so as to protect the timber industry from dangerous pests and diseases.

For further information, please contact Department of Agriculture at 082-255845 / 082-414712.

STA Members Directory Questionnaire 2010
We are now in the process of updating our STA Members Directory 2010. The directory will contain members listing and their relevant business activities and products sold or manufactured. Other than information on Sarawak Timber Association and our members, there will be other useful information such as relevant government departments and other contact details.

The STA Members Directory will be distributed at International Conferences, during Trade Missions overseas and to visitors to the Association. For more information, kindly contact Mr. Paul Ajah (Member Services Officer) at 082 332 222. Please download the PDF version of the questionnaire.

Goods and Services Tax Bill 2009
The Goods and Services Tax Bill 2009 ("the Bill") was tabled for first reading in the last sitting of the Parliament in December 2009.The implementation of goods and services tax is expected to take place 18 months after the second reading of the Bill in the Parliament in March 2010.

A copy of the Bill can be obtained from the Parliament’s official website at http://www.parlimen.gov.my/billindexbi/pdf/DR372009E.pdf.

The Malaysian Grading Rules for Sawn Hardwood Timber 2009 Edition

STA have received the Timber Grading Circular No 1/2009 from the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) on 5 January 2010 informing us that the rules for grading Malaysian sawn hardwood timber has been revised and it is now referred to as 'The Malaysian Grading Rules for Sawn Hardwood Timber (MGR) 2009 Edition'.

The Circular also stated that the MGR 2009 Edition is to be used as the reference to grade all sawn hardwood timber in Sarawak with effective from 2 January 2010.  The MGR 2009 Edition is available for sale at any STIDC offices throughout the State, at RM25.00 per copy.