Safety protocols in place to protect staff, says UEM Edgenta after protests

UEM Edgenta Bhd said it has protocols in place to protect the health and safety of its employees after a protest broke out over allegations of union-busting and lack of personal protective equipment.

It also claims to have communications channels in place and is committed to resolving internal matters affecting its employees amicably.

“The company would like to assure the public that we have implemented actions and safety measures to safeguard the health and safety of our employees throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and that our implementation of safety protocols are aligned with the strict standards set by the Ministry of Health for all hospitals and healthcare facilities in Malaysia treating Covid-19 patients.

“As part of the company’s corporate responsibility activities with key stakeholders, UEM Edgenta maintains numerous communications channels for employees to promote effective communications, as well as being committed to resolve internal matters impacting its employees in an amicable manner, by also engaging the relevant authorities such as the Labour Department whenever required,” it said in a statement today.

Earlier today, members of the National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services (NUWHSAS) held a protest against Edgenta UEMS Sdn Bhd outside Ipoh Hospital.

Edgenta UEMS, a hospital cleaning services provider, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UEM Edgenta.

Police subsequently broke up the protest and arrested five people – three union officials and two Parti Sosialis Malaysia members.

The union alleged that Edgenta UEMS had unilaterally changed members’ working hours or transferred them to work far from home and prohibited union worksite committees from holding discussions with workers even during break times.

They also claimed that the supply of personal protective equipment was inadequate even as workers cleaned Covid-19 wards, and they were denied the RM600 monthly allowance for frontline workers and only received a one-off RM300 payment.

Meanwhile, UEM Edgenta said more than 10 people were present at the protest.

It said this has prompted Ipoh Hospital’s management to report the gathering to the authorities, due to concerns about the protest being held during the conditional movement control order period. - Mkini