Johnson & Johnson agrees to take back 17 workers a day after protest

The employees picketed outside the company’s office yesterday carrying placards urging it to protect their rights and to prioritise locals above foreign workers.

PETALING JAYA: Johnson & Johnson Malaysia has offered to rehire 17 employees who protested outside its premises yesterday for allegedly receiving termination letters at short notice.

Ten of them took the offer while seven opted to accept compensation.

Secretary-general of the National Union of Petroleum and Chemical Industry Workers Abdul Halim Mansor told FMT that a consensus had been achieved between the company and the union at a meeting this morning.

“The dispute has been resolved in a good way. All the employees have been interviewed by the union. Ten of them have agreed to continue their service while the other seven decided to accept compensation,” he said.

Yesterday, the employees picketed outside the company’s office carrying placards urging it to protect their rights and to prioritise locals above foreign workers.

Halim had alleged yesterday that the company had not followed procedure in terminating the 17 workers and that it only gave 24 hours’ notice. He said the company had said it was terminating the services of the 17 due to job scope redundancy.

He had also claimed that the company was prioritising foreign workers over locals, as many foreigners were still working there.

In response, Johnson & Johnson Malaysia told FMT it was “committed to treating our employees with dignity and respect”.

It added that it “continuously evaluates its manufacturing and business operations to ensure the right mix of talent, capabilities and resources to deliver premium healthcare solutions”.

Halim said today the company had admitted that it did not follow the “right procedure” in terminating the employees.

He also said the company agreed with the union that local workers should get priority. - FMT