Eateries checked for compliance with laws

0

Jamilah (right) interviews employees at a coffeeshop in MJC Batu Kawah.

KUCHING: Enforcement officers of the Labour Department made surprise checks of food and beverage outlets in the city yesterday to see that the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (SLO) is adhered to.

The operation, which ran from 8am until 1pm, was held simultaneously in various locations in Sarawak.

It involved 99 officers from the department’s 17 offices in Sarawak.

Here, the officers led by head of Labour Standard Division, Jamilah Putit, split into groups and went to various locations in the city.

She said the operations were carried out to ensure that operators of such outlets comply with all labour laws in Sarawak, especially the Sarawak Labour Ordinance Chapter 76.

“The operation focused on several provisions of the labour laws, such as minimum wages, terms and conditions of employment, annual leave, sick leave entitlements, paid public holidays, and overtime,” she told the press after inspecting a coffeeshop in MJC Batu Kawah.

They also checked outlets that employ underage workers and young persons, and non-residents who are illegally employed.

“Errant employers will be issued with violation notice. We have a standard format violation notice, which employers have to comply with within 14 days of receipt.

“We also issue Investigation Papers (IP) on the spot, for violation of Section 119 Sarawak Labour Ordinance which states that it is an offence to employ non-residents without permit from the director of Labour,” Jamilah said.

She added that so far, 94 employers in Sarawak have been issued with IPs for compound and prosecution.

They have also, this year, conducted 4,699 statutory inspections and conducted 4,378 inspections related to Minimum Wages Order 2016.

“Before this, we did similar operations involving entertainment outlets, and restaurants that open at night. On July 17 we carried out inspection in Miri, Bintulu (July 18), Sibu (July 19) and in Kuching (July 24),” Jamilah said.