Community Profile Essay - 5395 Words

BSc Nursing Studies - Adult Teesside University Community Profile The Role of the Nurse in Improving Health and Wellbeing CCH1037-N-FB2-2013 Word Count 4117 Contents Introduction Page 3 - 7 The health improvement issue Page 8 - 10 Service Provision Page 11 - 13 The Role of the Nurse Page 14 - 16 Conclusion Page 17 References Page 18 - 25 Appendix One Appendix Two Chapter One - Introduction This report is an in depth community profile covering the Stockton-on-Tees area of Teesside within the North East of England. Outlining statistical information to key areas including population, immigration, age, gender,†¦show more content†¦The Health Protection Agency (HPA) state that in 2010 almost 12% of the population within the UK are people born abroad. In 2011/12 the total number of national insurance number registrations to adult overseas nationals entering the United Kingdom was 601,000 with a 15% drop compared to the 2010/11 registration statistic [gov.uk, 2012]. The following table is a breakdown of the top 20 countries of origin for immigration into the United Kingdom according to national insurance number registration statistics [gov.uk, 2012]. Rank Country of origin Total (thousands) 1 Poland 79.1 2 India 47.3 3 Pakistan 38.3 4 Rep of Lithuania 33.2 5 Spain 30.4 6 Italy 24.3 7 Romania 22.9 8 France 21.6 9 Rep of Latvia 18.6 10 Hungary 18.1 11 Portugal 17.3 12 Rep of Ireland 15.9 13 China 14.8 14 Australia 14.2 15 Nigeria 13.8 16 Bulgaria 12.6 17 Germany 11.8 18 USA 10.1 19 Slovak Rep 9.89 20 Bangladesh 7.66 Of the 601,000 people that entered the United Kingdom, 8040 located to the North East of England. A research report in 2011 by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) shows that a majority of long-term migrants entering the UK are young people entering to study or work. The health concerns of those entering the UK should be similar to the health concerns of UK born people of the same age group but in 2010, 60% of newly diagnosed cases of HIV and 80% of cases of Hepatitis B were found in non-UK born people. This research alsoShow MoreRelatedEth316 Community Profile Paper1362 Words   |  6 PagesCommunity Profile Presentation The City of Kelsey is an environment friendly and diverse community with residents from different ethnicities and backgrounds. The City Kelsey where most people regardless of the entry-level position have an opportunity to find a job. One of the largest employers is Smith System consulting, followed by Huffman trucking company own and managed by family members. This community has a diverse population of professionals on different fields such as consulting, transportationRead MoreWhat Is A Community Profile?1238 Words   |  5 PagesChapter one - Introduction What is a community profile? There are lots of health issues in all areas of United Kingdom (UK), in some areas more than others, the purpose of this community profile is to analyse a certain area within the North East of England and concentrate on a particular health inequality, in this case smoking within Middlesbrough and how as nurses this can be dealt with using health promotion ensuring the health and well-being of the community is paramount and also defining healthRead MoreEssay on Community Profile1666 Words   |  7 Pages The locality I have based my community profile on is Ardoyne. I feel that Ardoyne is familiar enough for me to carry out my research as I have lived here all my life. Although my project is based in Belfast city centre, we work with many groups and young people from the Ardoyne area. this would prove beneficial to myself as I would sometimes have already developed a relationship with the young people through community life. I will firstly explore the community I have chosen by speaking to localRead MoreProfile Of A Vietnamese Community936 Words   |  4 PagesProfile of a Vietnamese community in Southern California My choice of linguistic community in Southern California is Vietnamese community, which is known as â€Å"Little Saigon†. This community is mostly located in the city of Westminster and Garden Grove in Orange County. Vietnamese, as the sixth most popular language in the United States, has more than 1.5 million speakers distributed in several states such as California, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Vietnamese language has the fifth most speakersRead MoreCommunity Profile Essay4424 Words   |  18 Pagesï » ¿ UNIVERSITY OF TEESSIDE SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies, Adult The Role of the Nurse in Improving Health and Wellbeing (CCH1037-N-BJ1-2012) Community Profile Megan McCallion J9238068 Word Count: 3,704 Thursday 24th January 2013 Contents page Chapter One- Introduction........................................................................Page 3-4 Chapter Two – The Health Improvement Issue......................................Page 5-8 Chapter Three – ServiceRead MoreCommunity Profile/Nursing1568 Words   |  7 Pagesto details about appropriate further services. (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Primarycare/Primarycaretrusts/index.htm) †¢ Community Mental Health Team(CMHT) a multi-disciplinary team which provides assessment, care and treatment for people who have one or more types of severe mental illness †¢ Assertive outreach team. The team supports people in their local community rather than as an inpatient. The team operates on a flexible approach, providing assessment, care planning and interventionsRead MoreCommunity Profile Essay996 Words   |  4 PagesYour Username: BigBlakk Age: 15 Timezone: UTC +8 When did you join Decimate: October 22, 2017 How do you believe you are viewed in the community? (Toxic/Neutral/Friendly): I believe that people look at me or find me as a friendly player since I have been helping people out in the server and I also have had nice conversations with them. How active are/were you: Monday - 4:30 pm - 10:30 pm (can even go more) Tuesday - 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm (can even go more) Wednesday - 4:30 pm - 10:30 pm (can evenRead MoreCase Study Community Profile1301 Words   |  6 PagesCommunity Profile Location Princeton is a community in Collin County Texas that is experiencing expeditious growth. Located approximately 30 miles north of Dallas, Princeton borders on the east Farmersville and on the west McKinney, #3 on the U.S. Census Bureau’s list of the 15 fastest-growing large cities in the country. Its main business district is located along State Highway 380 corridor. With development underway for a new 107 acre business park off the corridor. Growth Princeton’s growthRead MoreSocial Media Profiles As An Invasion Of Privacy999 Words   |  4 Pagesmost highly debated issues in the business world is the use of social media profiles as a determining factor in the hiring process. Some people feel that using someone’s social media profile is an invasion of privacy because it uses something from their personal life to determine their professional success. As long as the company follows some basic guidelines I believe there is nothing wrong with them looking into the profiles of their potential employees. It is important to point out that while lookingRead MoreThe Influence Of The Community Health Profile For Oldham1012 Words   |  5 PagesThis assignment will investigate the Community Health Profile for Oldham, a metropolitan borough within Greater Manchester. Oldham has a population of around 224,900 (Oldham Council, 2017). At present, there are several prominent health issues in Oldham, according to Public Health En gland’s Health Profile (2017), such as: levels of obesity in Year 6 children; under 18 conceptions and children in low income families. The intention of this assignment is to gather further evidence and talk in more detail

The Legacy Of The Vietnam War - 1691 Words

Cellular telephones, Pepsi Max, and Pacemakers- all of these were invented in Jerald Brenhofer’s lifetime1. From the invention of cellphones that allowed him to talk with his expanding family as it spread beyond his physical reach to Boston and Chicago, to his favorite soda, Brenhofer lived a rich life, full of his favorite things and people. Born in 1942, in the throes of World War II and the lingering aftershocks of the Great Depression, the movement of social and technological change that Brenhofer experienced was more than a quantitative list of advancements and historical events, but the melding of the two into a continual and formative span of life. The upheavals that Brenhofer would come face to face with in his time were†¦show more content†¦In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Great Depression changed the lives of everyone on a global scale, but the economic and social change in America was incomparable. In 1929, the unemployment rate was at a mere 3.2%, but by 1933 however, a massive 25% of citizens were without jobs. To truly understand the enormity of this decline in the working population, one must first understand the causes of the depression itself. On October 29th, 1929 a crash in the stock market, known today as Black Tuesday, contributed to a drastic decline in the value of stocks and assets of banks. The massive hit that many of these banks took to their assets forced many of them into failure, and they took the savings and fall-back plans of millions of Americans with them. Without the banks, ordinary people had no access to their own savings and many people’s homes were foreclosed upon. Following the loss of the banks, unemployment also skyrocketed since people weren’t able to buy goods without access to what they had thought was their money. If there is no demand for products in a market like the United States’, then there is no demand for the production of those goods, and that very production of consumer goods was the trade that many of those hurt the worst by the Great Depression relied upon.2 This vicious cycle was one that would continue to plague the country until a new problem, theShow MoreRelatedThe Legacy of the Vietnam War2297 Words   |  10 PagesThe Legacy of the Vietnam War The Legacy of the Vietnam War University of Phoenix The Legacy of the Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1965-1975) was fought between the North and South Vietnam. The North was called Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the South was the Republic of Vietnam which was supported by the United States. The Vietnam War brought so many mixed emotions, fear from communism, and many lost lives. The Vietnam War was also very costly the war had spending over $140 billion dollarsRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Vietnam War1113 Words   |  5 PagesThe Vietnam War, similar to the past wars broke down, had an enduring financial legacy because of the expanded levels of government consumption which was financed by expansions in tax collection from 1968 to 1970. The victory in spending plan deficiencies was driven by both military and non-military expenses in mix with an expansionary financial arrangement that prompted quickly rising swelling in the mid-1970s. Figure six demonstrates the expansion in government spending which crested in 1968. UtilizationRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Vietnam W ar1832 Words   |  8 PagesThe Vietnam War is widely regarded as the lowest point in the history of U.S. foreign affairs. It mercilessly dragged an unwilling country on a fatal ride for twenty years, all while receiving low approval ratings and high funding. The Vietnam conflict served as an optimum environment for the virus of controversy. No one has more experience with controversy than Heinz Alfred Kissinger. He is the ultimate pragmatist, as embodying his philosophy of realpolitik, a diplomatic ideology based on utilitarianismRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Vietnam War934 Words   |  4 Pages Upon reflecting on the three main generations that comprise the workplace today, a few differences emerge. â€Å"Baby Boomers† grew up in a time when movements were prominent, the Vietnam War occurred, key figures were assassinated, the Watergate Scandal occurred, and television was introduced (Twenge et al., 2010; Schullery, 2013). Overall, â€Å"Baby Boomers† seem to exhibit a distrust of authority, value hard work, and want to enjoy their achievements (Robbins Judge, 2015; Twenge et al., 2010). As suchRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Vietnam War865 Words   |  4 Pages As a society, we are gradually losing faith in our political system. 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Therefore when war broke out between North Vietnam and South Vietnam the United States with its very anticommunistRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Vietnam War967 Words   |  4 Pagesyears afterwards. The Vietnam War had been going on for nine years up to this point, and the events that would occur during 1968 would help solidify anti-war sentiments. One of these events is the Tet Offensive, which occurred on January 30th, a campaign that targeted strategically important cites, all major US bases, and the Saigon embassy. While the losses were much heavier on the enemy side, the effects on the ARVN and the US army were more severe, with the realities of the war being exposed (RoarkRead MoreThe Legacy Of The Vietnam War Essay1246 Words   |  5 PagesWhile historians place considerable focus on his role in the Vietnam War, McNamara also helped shape the U.S.’s greater Cold War strategy. A large component of this included the relatively new field of nuclear politics. 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Their surrender left Vietnam vulnerable as they were now any formal nationalRead MoreThe Failure Of Guerilla Warfare Methods During The Vietnam War1369 Words   |  6 PagesGuerilla Warfare Methods in the Vietnam War: An Analysis of the Causality of the â€Å"Counter Insurgency† Governmental Policies and the Presidential Campaign of 1968 This colloquium will define the connection between various sources related to the â€Å"counter insurgency† policies of the American government throughout the 1960s that caused a slow escalation of the Vietnam War in the fight against communist expansion in Southeast Asia. The Campaign of 1968 defines the legacy of president Kennedy â€Å"counter

Comparing Classic Literature to the Lion King Free Essays

The first animated film with sound was the 1928 Disney film Steamboat Willie. Since then, animated movies have been cranked out due to the admiration they receive from children. Disney is known world wide for their animated films. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparing Classic Literature to the Lion King or any similar topic only for you Order Now People love them because of their feel good story lines, astounding use of animation, and largely, the music incorporated into the movies. My generation especially has grown up watching what could arguably be considered â€Å"Disney classics† such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. Although most people still consider Disney films to be more than appropriate for children, some take a deeper look into possible underlying plots that reveal material that may no longer be deemed acceptable and â€Å"G-Rate†. Robert Gooding Williams, the author of Disney In Africa And The Inner City: On Race And Space In The Lion King, argues that The Lion King depicts urban decline in the United States. â€Å"The Lion King marks the elephant graveyard as inner city. It uses Whoopi Goldberg’s and Cheech Marin’s voices to represent the speech of two of the three prominent hyena characters as Black English and Latino slang respectively,† (Gooding-Williams). He views The Lion King to be degrading to some races with inappropriate themes. Matt Roth, another scholar, argues in his article The Lion King A Short History of Disney-Fascism, that Disney supports monarchism and fascist themes due to the story line of The Lion King. The Lion King echoes all of its fascist themes: hatred of gays, communists, and minorities, and the glorification of violent male initiation and feminine domesticity all set in a bucolic suburban environment under the strong leadership of an all-male state,† (Roth). He argues that Mufasa, the King, rules as a communist or monarchist because all animals in the beginning of the movie bow down to him instead of fleeing from a predator as they would in reality (The Lion King). Annalee Ward, author of the arti cle The Lion King’s Mythic Narrative argues that The Lion King is a biblical narrative that can teach children good moral values. Ward uses the example of Simba, Mufasa’s son, returning home to save the Pride Land from evil, or Scar, Mufasa’s wicked brother, and compares it to the prophecy in the Bible of Jesus returning to save humanity from evil. Although all of these scholars have valid argument that have clear correlations to the movie, an argument that was not presented was how closely The Lion King’s story line matches that of a famous Shakespeare play. I argue that The Lion King does not necessarily have an underlying plot that can only be perceived as our society, but instead is simply based off of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The overall theme of both Hamlet and The Lion King is about responsibility and revenge. The death of the princes’ fathers leaves both characters extremely downhearted. Hamlet Jr. and Simba both go through a confusing and mournful stage after losing their fathers. At one point in both plots, both Simba and Hamlet Jr. run from their responsibilities although both characters know what they need to do to avenge their fathers deaths. Another key part of the plot is that the two characters both see their father’s spirit, which is a turning point for them to avenge their fathers. Mufasa and Hamlet Sr. lso have striking characteristic resemblance. Both of the kings were killed by their own brothers. As kings, they both ruled their kingdoms with peace and prosperity and were well liked(McElveen). As deceased kings they approach their sons in spirit, but neither tell their son directly to kill their murder (McElveen). Although Hamlet Jr. actually does kill his uncle Claudius, Sca r is killed by the pack of hyenas that at one time served him as their leader and king. Not only do the protagonist allude to each other; the villains in Hamlet and The Lion King can also be compared to each other. Scar and Claudius, brothers of the kings, are both in pursuit to take over the throne. Once they have succeeded in killing off their sibling and taking over the throne, both enjoy the comfortable life of being a king. Claudius holds banquets in his own honor, and marvels at all his materialistic things. Scar allows the hyenas to hunt the Pride Land until every source of food and water has been depleted to almost non-existence while he lounges in his cave eating more than his fair share of food (McElveen). As far as secondary characters goes, The Lion King’s Timon and Pumba allude to Hamlet’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Both pairs of characters act as a relief from the main focus in the story in both works (McElveen). Timon and Pumba introduce a carefree style of living (also famously known as â€Å"Hakuna Mata†) to Simba while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are friends that Hamlet Jr. enjoys life outside of the royal house (McElveen). A lot of today’s entertainment can be related back to older literature. A lot of today’s literature can also be related to theories on societies, the bible, etc. When experiencing a new piece of literature, music, or film, it is important to keep an open mind. All of these things are considered to be a type of art and art is supposed to be open to interpretation. When interpreting The Lion King and other pieces, there are no wrong answers, just difference in opinions. Works Cited The Lion King. Dir. Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. Perf. Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick. Walt Disney Feature Animation, 1994. Videocassette. McElveen, Trey. Hamlet and The Lion King: Shakespearean Influences on Modern Entertainment. Rep. N. p. : n. p. , n. d. 17 Apr. 1998. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. How to cite Comparing Classic Literature to the Lion King, Essays

Maternity Leave free essay sample

The issue of maternity leave is a debatable topic among governments, employers and employees with differing interests. Varying across countries, Malaysia practices a minimum of 60 days according to the Employment Act 1955 (Lawnet. com. my 2010) . In theSun Newspaper, Chandranagayam (2010) discussed how Malaysian practitioners responded poorly towards National Union of Bank Employee’s (NUBE) call to increase maternity leave from 60 to 90 days, citing business operations’ interruptions, unhealthy business environment and 60 days being sufficient. The writer asserts that companies should focus on developing innovative solutions to provide for this benefit as most developed countries do. Presently, only the Selangor state enforces 90-day maternity live for its civil servants (The Star Online 2010) . The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) minimum standard is set at 14 weeks in promoting working women’s right (The Star Online 2010) . Vast majority of its 183 members provide 12 weeks or more maternity leave with more than 70 providing more than 14 weeks. The need becomes greater as Malaysian women are expected not only to be productive employees and leaders, but take on the motherhood role. A study from the Corporate Leadership Council (2009) finds effective work-life benefits result in star employees working harder and increased organization loyalty. This provides insights on how organizations can attract and retain skilled labour. Malaysia has yet to conform to ILO’s minimum recognized standard. 1. 2Issue 2: Migrant Workers 233 In March 2010’s issue of Bloomberg Businessweek, Zappei (2010) discussed on Malaysia’s migrant workers. Amnesty, an organization campaigning for international human rights urged for Malaysia to protect its migrant workers’ rights as they found exploitation of these low skilled workers a common occurrence. Among the mistreatment faced are arbitrary arrests, low wages, threats and unsafe working environments. This is a concern as more than one fifth of Malaysia’s workforce positions are filled by foreign labourers in positions shunned by locals in industries involving onstruction, households, factories and plantations. It is estimated about 1 million foreigners working illegally and 2 million working legally in Malaysia with most of them coming from poorer parts of countries including Philippines, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The situation impacts Malaysia’s diplomatic ties with other countries. Zamir (2009) found migrant workers dependent towards the economy where the global recession resulted in Malaysia cancelling more than 50000 visas in the first quarter of 2009. Many Bangladeshi workers were retrenched and forced to return to their home country, negatively impacting Bangladesh’s economic position and balance of payment being heavily reliant on providing migrant labour. Conversely, diplomatic relations among Malaysia and Indonesia over 52 years deteriorated over differing misconceptions over issues of criminal migrant workers and maid abuse. This is detrimental as both countries are heavily reliant on providing for each other’s economy (Newsbank 2009) . Over 30 years, the act resulted in about 70 percent Norwegian women today compared to less than half previously. With 40. 1 percent female board members in public listed companies, the Norwegian economy benefits from innovative contribution and high-level decision making from women. Malaysia observed a rise from 18. 8 to 30. 5 percent in top management positions in the public sector since 2004, but figures in the private sector remains low. Norway offers over a year’s parental leave hence an enabling environment is crucial for Malaysian women to contribute to the economy. Stone (2008) suggests three approaches to managing employment diversity Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), diversity management and affirmative action. EEO aims to eliminate unfairness in unrelated job factors and promote equitable employment opportunities for all applicants. These are often employers’ responses toward governmental legislations. Without sex discrimination in the workplace, HR practitioners need also look into ways to maximize the potential of the female employees. 2. 2 Issue 2: Migrant Workers The wellbeing of migrant workers in Malaysia deserves consideration as they significantly contribute towards firms’ productivity and the nation’s overall economy. The recurring issue on employee welfare has exacerbated, potentially damaging political ties and subjects Malaysia to public criticism. The government plays an important role in preventing exploitation of labour in the country through law and policy making. Being the biggest migrant employer in South East Asia, Malaysia, migrant workers are viewed to contribute towards developing a country’s economy but could also create social issues. Cultural differences could cause conflicts, reflected in the people’s perception and media (Amarjit 2005) . So far, the policy on Recruitment of Foreign Workers since 1991 outlines rules and guidelines on how migrant workers are to be treated. The policy requires migrant workers to have a written contract paid by the employer, wages, benefits and employment terms to be similar to local workers based on relevant national labour legislation and provide a conducive environment (clean housing and food) for the migrant workers. Although so, Malaysia is still lacking in a comprehensive legal and policy framework to regulate and manage migrant workers and different aspects of migrant workers are divided and overseen by different ministries and departments (Fair Labour Association 2008) . The lack of efficient management of human resources and processes could have led to employers disregarding the governmental policies for migrant workers enforced. 3. 0 IMPROVEMENT PLAN 700/233 3. 1 Issue 1: Maternity Leave Malaysia will soon need to step up and comply with ILO’s maternity leave standards. The compliance will improve workplace benefits for women, in particular. Employers need to recognize the unique contribution of women in the workplace including diversity, creativity and part of the labour supply. Employers need to shift from the assumption that additional leave creates losses in man hours and consider the long term advantages reaped – retention of key employees. In facilitating this benefit for working women, the government should first increase the maternity leave standards for both public and private sectors to conform to ILO’s standards. This ensures an increased commitment from employers to comply with the new policy. Working women, on the other hand, will not consider motherhood to be of a disadvantage to their career development. In committing to women advancement in the workplace, employers should look into creative and innovative workaround solutions. Employers should set up clear implementation guidelines and controls to cater for pregnant staff. Childbearing is not a sudden phenomenon; these female employees can plan and prepare their workmates throughout their pregnancy process in handing over their tasks. This permits a smooth handover during the transition period when she is on maternity leave. With flexible work arrangements and appropriate workload, returning employees will be able to resume their work positions with minimal disruptions to business activities. 3. 2 Issue 2: Migrant Workers The government plays a role in stepping up to prosecute those who illtreat its workers. Much improvement can be done to set up a legal framework in managing migrant workers’ HR activities. Workplace inspections should be conducted periodically. Migrant workers should also have communication access to relevant parties for issues. The Malaysian embassy and public affairs section should also work in response to refute on false accusations on Malaysian employers and foster better relationships with other countries. This helps Malaysia to obtain the supply of migrant workers needed for the economy. Improved legislation need to be enforced to guarantee and safeguard interests of both the employers and migrant workers. There is a need for companies to look into managing industrial relations on migrant workers’ rights, employment conditions and wages. Being a HRM function, companies need to manage the complex relationships between workers, employers and legislative bodies. With varying practices across organizations, HR managers need to observe the legal requirements in managing the migrant workers through anti-discriminating measures (Stone 2008). Companies need to work towards complying with the Policy on Recruitment of Foreign Workers. Appropriate resource planning helps companies to project the labour needed thus mimimizing the need for retrenchment of migrant workers for other options including outsourcing and hiring part time workers.

Maternity Leave free essay sample

The issue of maternity leave is a debatable topic among governments, employers and employees with differing interests. Varying across countries, Malaysia practices a minimum of 60 days according to the Employment Act 1955 (Lawnet. com. my 2010) . In theSun Newspaper, Chandranagayam (2010) discussed how Malaysian practitioners responded poorly towards National Union of Bank Employee’s (NUBE) call to increase maternity leave from 60 to 90 days, citing business operations’ interruptions, unhealthy business environment and 60 days being sufficient. The writer asserts that companies should focus on developing innovative solutions to provide for this benefit as most developed countries do. Presently, only the Selangor state enforces 90-day maternity live for its civil servants (The Star Online 2010) . The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) minimum standard is set at 14 weeks in promoting working women’s right (The Star Online 2010) . Vast majority of its 183 members provide 12 weeks or more maternity leave with more than 70 providing more than 14 weeks. The need becomes greater as Malaysian women are expected not only to be productive employees and leaders, but take on the motherhood role. A study from the Corporate Leadership Council (2009) finds effective work-life benefits result in star employees working harder and increased organization loyalty. This provides insights on how organizations can attract and retain skilled labour. Malaysia has yet to conform to ILO’s minimum recognized standard. 1. 2Issue 2: Migrant Workers 233 In March 2010’s issue of Bloomberg Businessweek, Zappei (2010) discussed on Malaysia’s migrant workers. Amnesty, an organization campaigning for international human rights urged for Malaysia to protect its migrant workers’ rights as they found exploitation of these low skilled workers a common occurrence. Among the mistreatment faced are arbitrary arrests, low wages, threats and unsafe working environments. This is a concern as more than one fifth of Malaysia’s workforce positions are filled by foreign labourers in positions shunned by locals in industries involving onstruction, households, factories and plantations. It is estimated about 1 million foreigners working illegally and 2 million working legally in Malaysia with most of them coming from poorer parts of countries including Philippines, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The situation impacts Malaysia’s diplomatic ties with other countries. Zamir (2009) found migrant workers dependent towards the economy where the global recession resulted in Malaysia cancelling more than 50000 visas in the first quarter of 2009. Many Bangladeshi workers were retrenched and forced to return to their home country, negatively impacting Bangladesh’s economic position and balance of payment being heavily reliant on providing migrant labour. Conversely, diplomatic relations among Malaysia and Indonesia over 52 years deteriorated over differing misconceptions over issues of criminal migrant workers and maid abuse. This is detrimental as both countries are heavily reliant on providing for each other’s economy (Newsbank 2009) . Over 30 years, the act resulted in about 70 percent Norwegian women today compared to less than half previously. With 40. 1 percent female board members in public listed companies, the Norwegian economy benefits from innovative contribution and high-level decision making from women. Malaysia observed a rise from 18. 8 to 30. 5 percent in top management positions in the public sector since 2004, but figures in the private sector remains low. Norway offers over a year’s parental leave hence an enabling environment is crucial for Malaysian women to contribute to the economy. Stone (2008) suggests three approaches to managing employment diversity Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), diversity management and affirmative action. EEO aims to eliminate unfairness in unrelated job factors and promote equitable employment opportunities for all applicants. These are often employers’ responses toward governmental legislations. Without sex discrimination in the workplace, HR practitioners need also look into ways to maximize the potential of the female employees. 2. 2 Issue 2: Migrant Workers The wellbeing of migrant workers in Malaysia deserves consideration as they significantly contribute towards firms’ productivity and the nation’s overall economy. The recurring issue on employee welfare has exacerbated, potentially damaging political ties and subjects Malaysia to public criticism. The government plays an important role in preventing exploitation of labour in the country through law and policy making. Being the biggest migrant employer in South East Asia, Malaysia, migrant workers are viewed to contribute towards developing a country’s economy but could also create social issues. Cultural differences could cause conflicts, reflected in the people’s perception and media (Amarjit 2005) . So far, the policy on Recruitment of Foreign Workers since 1991 outlines rules and guidelines on how migrant workers are to be treated. The policy requires migrant workers to have a written contract paid by the employer, wages, benefits and employment terms to be similar to local workers based on relevant national labour legislation and provide a conducive environment (clean housing and food) for the migrant workers. Although so, Malaysia is still lacking in a comprehensive legal and policy framework to regulate and manage migrant workers and different aspects of migrant workers are divided and overseen by different ministries and departments (Fair Labour Association 2008) . The lack of efficient management of human resources and processes could have led to employers disregarding the governmental policies for migrant workers enforced. 3. 0 IMPROVEMENT PLAN 700/233 3. 1 Issue 1: Maternity Leave Malaysia will soon need to step up and comply with ILO’s maternity leave standards. The compliance will improve workplace benefits for women, in particular. Employers need to recognize the unique contribution of women in the workplace including diversity, creativity and part of the labour supply. Employers need to shift from the assumption that additional leave creates losses in man hours and consider the long term advantages reaped – retention of key employees. In facilitating this benefit for working women, the government should first increase the maternity leave standards for both public and private sectors to conform to ILO’s standards. This ensures an increased commitment from employers to comply with the new policy. Working women, on the other hand, will not consider motherhood to be of a disadvantage to their career development. In committing to women advancement in the workplace, employers should look into creative and innovative workaround solutions. Employers should set up clear implementation guidelines and controls to cater for pregnant staff. Childbearing is not a sudden phenomenon; these female employees can plan and prepare their workmates throughout their pregnancy process in handing over their tasks. This permits a smooth handover during the transition period when she is on maternity leave. With flexible work arrangements and appropriate workload, returning employees will be able to resume their work positions with minimal disruptions to business activities. 3. 2 Issue 2: Migrant Workers The government plays a role in stepping up to prosecute those who illtreat its workers. Much improvement can be done to set up a legal framework in managing migrant workers’ HR activities. Workplace inspections should be conducted periodically. Migrant workers should also have communication access to relevant parties for issues. The Malaysian embassy and public affairs section should also work in response to refute on false accusations on Malaysian employers and foster better relationships with other countries. This helps Malaysia to obtain the supply of migrant workers needed for the economy. Improved legislation need to be enforced to guarantee and safeguard interests of both the employers and migrant workers. There is a need for companies to look into managing industrial relations on migrant workers’ rights, employment conditions and wages. Being a HRM function, companies need to manage the complex relationships between workers, employers and legislative bodies. With varying practices across organizations, HR managers need to observe the legal requirements in managing the migrant workers through anti-discriminating measures (Stone 2008). Companies need to work towards complying with the Policy on Recruitment of Foreign Workers. Appropriate resource planning helps companies to project the labour needed thus mimimizing the need for retrenchment of migrant workers for other options including outsourcing and hiring part time workers.