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Training to be a Labour Officer


In the year 1966 after I got through my Higher School Certificate, I came across an advertisement by the Public Services Commission that there were vacancies for Labour  Officers who were then known as Junior Assistant Commissioners. The minimum qualification was a Pass Degree from any Malaysian University. A note following the advertisement mentioned that if there were no sufficient candidates with a Pass Degree, candidates with a Higher School Certificate would also be considered. I held a Higher School Certificate but was employed in a clerical capacity that demanded a School Certificate and felt I should move on. I submitted my application for the posts of an Auditor and a Junior Assistant Commissioner and a Customs Superintendent. 


I was successful in obtaining employment as Auditor and a Junior Assistant Commissioner. I did not know what the jobs entailed but accepted the job of Junior Assistant Commissioner because of its high sounding name. In the first month of my service I was attached to a senior officer who would be my mentor. I was to observe him and to learn how he carried out his duties. 


This Officer was an easy going man. He had to do field work on three days of the week and spend the other two days at the Office attending to employees and employers who called over to file complaints, clear doubts and seek clarification of the Labor Laws. 

He passed me a few books on Labour laws and some gazettes and advised me to read them up.I did likewise and when I was not out with him I would read the Labor Laws to familiarise myself with the laws pertaining to the work of my Department. I observed that the Officer I was attached to would have his last appointment before lunch break at a coffee shop where meals are served. He would invariably be invited to have his meals at the shop and I did not notice him declining any invitation. However they were simple meals like fried noodles and fried rice that would not have caused a dent to the petty traders’ income. When I accompanied him I would also be treated to these simple meals. Fortunately he would choose a different shop each time not because he sought variety but to avoid complaints that he was having free meals at the shop.


All content (c) Ganapathy Ramasamy, mynameisgana@blogspot.com

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