‘Majority of employers still ignorant’

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JOB FOR YOU: Director of state Labour Department August Buma points to the list of vacancies. Standing next to him is Ahmad.

JOB FOR YOU: Director of state Labour Department August Buma points to the list of vacancies. Standing next to him is Ahmad.

KUCHING: Quite a high percentage of some 20,000 employers here remain ignorant of provisions of the Labour Ordinance, said assistant director of state Labour Department Ahmad Lamat.

Speaking to journalists here yesterday, he said there was no excuse for employers to be unaware of the labour regulations since the department had on-going education for them.

“We have come across cases where employers are at a loss when required to present evidence at the Labour Court.
It surprises us that many employers do not know about the law.

“I do not see how this is happening because we give briefing to employers, 20 at one time, at our office on Thursday fortnightly. This is part of our efforts to educate employers,” he said when met at the department’s job placement programme held at a shopping mall here.

Thirty-five booths were lined up for the one-day campaign that offered 1,452 vacancies in the private sector.

The programme is an annual initiative of the department to match jobs.

Ahmad pointed out that individuals who registered at the programme would earn at least RM800 per month following the implementation of the minimum wage policy.

“At the moment, employers who recruit six employees and above are required to pay the minimum wage,” he said.

Ahmad also disclosed that the department had received 18 complaints regarding the policy. Most complainants are cleaning workers.

He, however, was pleased that no case of dismissal due to the policy had been registered, to date.

“This is good news as it will be bad if an employee is dismissed just because of the minimum wage policy.”

On dealing with labour complaints, Ahmad said the complainant would have to produce a statement of complaint, which should prompt the department to call for a meeting between both employee and employer.

“We will give them a chance to settle. If this fails, then we fix a date for our officers to hear the case. Both parties will then have to present their respective evidences at the Labour Court.

“After the hearing, we will make an order. Generally, employers who are ordered to pay must do so as failing which, they will be charged in court.”

He added that employers could be ordered to pay a maximum of RM10,000, depending on the offence.

“If they are already dragged to court, and still refuse to pay, they will be fined RM100 per day for continued offence.”

Every employer must comply with the order ruled by the Labour Court, he stressed.

Employees who face issues pertaining to the minimum wage policy are advised to visit the Labour Department at Wisma KWSP or call 082-247349.