The Malaysian American Electronics Industry (MAEI) expects a turnaround in the global electrical and electronics (E&E) industry by 2010 with demand picking up for personal computers, disc storage systems and mobile phones as widely forecasted by major international research houses. Exports of US electronics manufacturers in Malaysia are to register 15-20% rise in the second quarter of 2009, and another 10% in the third quarter. The increase is driven by the stimulus packages implemented by governments worldwide, especially China. The expected increase in exports in the second quarter is also due to worldwide consolidation activities and inventory correction. Malaysia has also benefited from the global economic crisis as some companies gained from additional activities and increased use of shared services as a result of the consolidation of overseas companies and outsourcing strategies, such as in design and development (D&D), procurement, financial services, IT and human...

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 (Bernama) — The ministries of International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) and Human Resource will look into the allegations on forced labour the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector in Malaysia. According to news report, the US Labour Department would put Malaysian on the “International Ranking on Forced Labour” watch list in December on findings from a global non-governmental organisation, Verite, on labour issues in the sector. The US Labour Department-funded Verite highlighted several issues regarding employment in the country’s E&E sector including deceptive recruitment, poor living conditions and passport retention. “This could be on misinformation. We will have constant engagements with the relevant authorities regarding the issues. “It is important to have correct information and that should be corrected accordingly,” International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed told Bernama Tuesday. “Sometimes, there...