HR Ministry Proposes to Keep Workers’ Prisoner Records Confidential

The Human Resources Ministry recently proposed keeping prison records confidential to ensure that former prisoners are able to join the workforce. 

Trade associations and employers' groups widely supported the proposal. 

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan suggested that prison records should be kept confidential and exclusive to specific government departments and the police, not to third parties such as employers. 

 

The stigma of being an ex-prisoner

The president of the SME Association of Malaysia, Ding Hong Sing, said society, in general, has a wrong opinion of people with prison records. 

He said that if a person wants to return to the workforce, but everyone finds out that he has been to jail, there is already a stigma, which might affect their self-confidence. He added that prison records should be kept confidential in such situations.

Ding, who works in the food industry, also talked with the Prisons Department on hiring ex-convicts. He recalled meeting a prison director last year where they talked about how to help those who have been released from prison.  

Due to a lack of staff, he said that the food industry has now begun hiring former prisoners. He explained that though they may lack the experience, the company and the person in charge would provide training as long as they are prepared to learn. 

He further noted that everyone makes mistakes, but the former prisoners deserve another chance, and the companies are willing to offer them a chance as long as they don't squander it. 

Ding admitted that though he is open to hiring ex-prisoners, not all employers share his feelings. He said the quality of an employee could be judged by their attitude and performance, not whether they have a prison record. 

 

Reintegrating ex-prisoners into society

The president of the Malaysian Garments Wholesale Merchants Association, Datuk Ang Say Tee, said that having a prison record does not indicate one will permanently be a bad person. 

Ang said that the minister's proposal is an excellent move to reintegrate ex-prisoners into society. 

Addressing the possible consequences or dangers of hiring prisoners, Ang said any worker, with or without a prison record, would have to perform well and work hard to earn the employer's trust. 

The president of the Malaysia-Singapore Coffeeshop Proprietors Association, Wong Teu Hoon, said that it is pretty usual for companies in the restaurant business to recruit former prisoners. 

Wong said that those with prison records are generally forthcoming and inform their potential employers of their status when interviewing for jobs.

He added that they are upfront, so employers understand their past and why they were in prison. Most employers in the food and coffee shop business will hire them. 

According to him, the employers' only worry is if they were drug users as they may suffer a relapse and affect their coworkers or steal to feed the habit. 

 

Source: The Sun Daily

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