Don’t dismiss staff anyhow, companies told

KUCHING: Private sector workers will find it difficult to get help upon dismissal without the backing of a workers association or union.

Uni Malaysia Labour Centre ( UNI- MLC) president Datuk Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal said although employees can complain to the Human Resources Ministry under the Industrial Relations Act 1967 Section 20 for Unfair Dismissal, in Malaysia, the percentage for the outcome in favour of the aggrieved party is around 10 per cent.

“Management should not take advantage of this to dismiss staff,” said Shafie yesterday, while acknowledging that some will do it regardless of how it will impact the employee.

Shafie was speaking at a press conference after launching the 11th Triennial Union of Telecoms Employees Sarawak ( Utes) Delegates Congress yesterday.

However, unions can speak to the management on the employees’ behalf to find out why they are being dismissed, and to see if there is any alternative, he added.

“If the workplace is no longer relevant, they can retrain the staff to do something else in the company.

“We have to talk to management to find out what their concrete reason is. Is the company making a loss? When? They have to show evidence.”

He said if the union is satisfied with the reason why workers are being dismissed, then they can discuss compensation.

“The company cannot just push the employees out just like that. There has to be compensation. This is important,” he said, stressing that this only works if there is a union.