Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said that in other countries, thousands of workers filed for such claims yearly "but here, we receive 300 to 400. Our doctors are unable to link many diseases and health problems to the job".

Workers, Dr Subramaniam said, were missing out on medical and cash benefits offered by the Social Security Organisation.

He said eight in 10 workers were denied Socso medical aid because of ignorant doctors.

He was speaking after launching the second TNB safety seminar for top management in Subang yesterday.

He said it was important to raise awareness of the issue among doctors, especially those working in factories or treating their workers. He cited asthma and skin diseases as health problems which doctors often failed to link to the work environment.

"The doctor should be able to tell if the asthma is triggered or caused by the work environment. It could be triggered by fumes.

"The disease might continue after the worker's retirement. He might not receive his pension because the doctor did not link his condition to his job."

He said the ministry would conduct training to create awareness among doctors treating occupational diseases.

He raised the alarm over increasing work-related fatalities, which shot up from 607 in 2002 to 1,303 two years ago.

He said the increase could be due to more high-rise buildings being constructed.