Migrant workers in housing 'unfit for humans' to be relocated

 

An amendment to the Workers' Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) was gazetted yesterday and workers living in accommodation that are "not suitable for human habitation" will be relocated to suitable quarters, said Human Resources Minister M Saravanan.

The minister, at a press conference today, said this included those living in overcrowded accommodation, adding that they will immediately be relocated to centralised labour quarters (CLQs) which included hotels.

The monthly cost of the accommodation - RM200 for each worker and RM20 in utility costs - will be borne by their employers, he said.

The amendment to the act was done under the Emergency Ordinance.

The amendment also allows the director-general of the Labour Department to order employers to improve those accommodations which fail to comply with the law.

Employers can be charged in court for non-compliance.

Under the amendment of Act 446, employers may face up to three years in prison or a maximum fine of RM200,000 or both, said Saravanan.

The punishment is much more severe under the new amendment. Initially, those who breached the act only faced a RM2,500 fine for each worker.

The act, which before covered only Peninsular Malaysia, is now extended to both Sabah and Sarawak for the entire emergency period, according to Saravanan.

The amendment of Act 446 also sees the minister devolve the scope of various powers stipulated under the act to officers of other ministries and agencies including the Works Ministry, the Health Ministry, the Home Ministry, the Housing and Local Government Ministry, the International Trade and Industry Ministry as well as the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

It also compels employers to provide accommodation for all foreign employees, except domestic maids, added Saravanan.

The government, he said, will focus its enforcement on three areas, namely the production, construction and service sectors in Selangor, Johor and Kuala Lumpur which continue to see a high number of Covid-19 cases.

This focus will be on approximately 75,000 employers in two states and the capital, he said. - Mkini