Minister: Employers must pay salaries during restriction period

Workers are entitled to their salaries throughout the restriction of movement order period, which ends on March 31, said Human Resources Minister M Saravanan.

"Throughout the movement control order period, employers must pay workers salaries and related allowances, unless that allowance is related to attendance or travel," said Saravanan (photo).

He relayed this message to Malaysiakini in the form of a graphic, and confirmed it was true.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin also retweeted a tweet bearing the same graphic, saying it was the minister's statement.

Another graphic in that tweet has Saravanan stating that employers can't force workers to use annual leave or go on unpaid leave throughout the movement control order period.

Saravanan's remarks are similar to that of a Labour Department frequently asked questions (FAQ) guide that has been circulating on social media since yesterday.

A department source told Malaysiakini that the FAQ is real, but it appears that there are changes in the works.

The FAQ has not been officially released by the Labour Department yet.

According to a copy of the FAQ that Malaysiakini sighted, it said that workers are entitled to full wages throughout the restriction period, even if they do not work.

However, the National Security Council through, its official Telegram channel, earlier said a message that "employers are obligated to pay full salaries for the entire period of March 18-30, 2020" was fake.

Under the restriction of movement order, only essential public and private offices will remain open.

The NSC has since announced exceptions for several industries. - Mkini