135 employers in S’wak not complying with minimum wages order

KUCHING: Of the 4,378 inspections carried out between January and July this year, the Sarawak Labour Department found 135 employers not complying with the Minimum Wages Order.

Its director Awang Raduan Awang Omar said that throughout last year, from the 5,581 inspections conducted, 221 employers were found to have failed to comply with the minimum wages order.

He said that apart from issuing notices to employers to take corrective actions as of July, 68 investigation papers had been opened involving investigations under the National Wages Consultative Council Act 2011.

“Of the 68 cases, 42 have been investigated while 20 have been brought to court of which 13 have been convicted, three others were released without being acquitted, one case was withdrawn because the company folded up and three more cases have been registered for mention in court,” he said at a meeting with the local media at the department here yesterday.

The inspections also included cases involving violations of regulations under the labour laws enforced under the Labour Ordinance ( Sarawak Chapter 76), the National Wages Consultative Act, Minimum Retirement Age Act and the Workmen’s Compensation Act.

Awang Raduan, who was recently transferred from Putrajaya to Kuching on July 24 to head the Sarawak Labour Department is determined to carry out more inspections and enforcement measures. — Bernama