MTUC told to legally deal with employers not paying workers due to MCO

Penang executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo said the issue of employers not paying their workers salaries due to the Covid-19 Movement Control Order (MCO) is a "legal issue".

Jagdeep (photo) urged the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and the works council to address the issue of companies not paying salaries to their employees or forcing them to take a pay cut.

He is willing to discuss the issue with the relevant agencies at the state level.

"I would say that this is a legal issue. The MTUC and the works council will have to come in and take action,” he said in his speech at an event in Penang Island City Hall at the Esplanade this morning.

Jagdeep was responding to the MTUC which called on the government to "rein in" the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) which allegedly refused to pay employees of companies shut down for the next two weeks.

MTUC said the move was "most inhumane" on the part of the MEF whose members will directly benefit from the government’s RM20 billion stimulus package.

Yet, they have no qualms about leaving their workers high and dry without income, claimed the MTUC.

Meanwhile, also in his speech, Jagdeep wants frontliners of the fight against Covid-19 to receive their cash incentives by tomorrow.

Jagdeep said he wants the local authorities - Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) to cut the red tape in disbursing the funds to the frontliners.

He sent out the same message to the state financial officer, saying the monies under the Penang people’s aid package, must be quickly entered into the accounts of licensed traders and hawkers, and the councils’ frontline workers.

"We hope the mayors of the two local councils will look into this matter as soon as possible.

"The state appreciates the frontliners and we hope the people's aid package will ease their burdens," said Jagdeep, who is in-charge of state local government, housing, town and country planning committee.

Accompanying Jagdeep today were MBPP mayor Yew Tung Seang, MBSP mayor Rozali Mohamud and MBPP secretary Addnan Mohd Razali.

A group of local council frontliners, wearing facemasks and clad in their yellow work gear, were also on the field with Jagdeep.

According to the Penang Aid Package, which was announced last week by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, licensed traders and hawkers will receive a one-off RM500 payment.

A total of 4,991 frontline workers in both MBPP and MBSP will each receive RM300.

Jagdeep expressed appreciation to the frontliners and urged then to keep up the good work.

The 2,000 licensed hawkers and traders are told to contact the MBPP to register their account numbers with the council to get the RM500 payment.

They can also send a WhatsApp message to 016-2004082 by typing COVID500, where they will be issued a link to fill in their details.

As for the MPSP, a portal is being set-up for all licensed traders and hawkers in the area to register their accounts to obtain the cash incentives. - Mkini