Pay migrant workers you bring in or get punished, minister tells companies

The government today warned employers who bring migrant workers into the country to pay their employees, even when they are not given any work.

Speaking at a press conference, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim warned errant employers that failure to pay salaries is a major violation of the country’s labour laws.

“Employees are entitled to their salary, even when they are not given any work.

“This will be our policy on the way forward. The Human Resources Ministry considers that any worker that is brought into Malaysia must be paid, regardless of whether the worker did any job or not,” he said during the conference in Putrajaya this evening.

Sim (above, right) said the decision was reached during a joint-committee meeting on foreign workers management between his ministry and the Home Ministry held earlier today.

Quota freeze, blacklist

On Dec 20 last year, 171 migrant workers from Bangladesh marched some 10km to the Bayu Damai police station in Pengerang, Johor, to lodge a report against their agent who failed to find them employment after three months here.

The group were detained by the Immigration Department before they could lodge the report. They have since been released from custody.

Following the incident, Sim said, the ministry has also adopted several new approaches to prevent a repeat of such violations.

Companies that are found violating the law would have their incoming migrant workers quota frozen and be put on a blacklist.

Addressing concerns of a corporate veil protecting individuals behind the errant companies, the government will also take action against the directors and managers involved under Section 101(b) of the Employment Act.

“So, action will be taken against the directors and managers instead of only the corporate entity,” he said.

Meanwhile, on the Pengerang case, Sim told reporters that 571 Bangladeshi workers have filed claims for their unpaid wages with the Labour Department so far.

They involve a total amount of RM2.21 million in unpaid wages.

For this case, Sim said the Labour Court has set Feb 5 for hearing in Pengerang. - Mkini