Breach of labour laws: Three companies in Sarawak fined

KUCHING: Three companies have, to date, been imposed fines for separate offences under the laws enforced by the Department of Labour Sarawak.

In the proceeding held before Magistrate Leona Dominic Mojiliu in Miri, a company was fined RM4,200 for three charges under Section 130J(c) of Labour Ordinance (Sarawak Chapter 76) for failure to pay workers' salaries, as set under Section 109 (1) of the same Ordinance.

In Bintulu, Magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa imposed a RM2,000 fine on a company for an offence read under Section 13 (5) of Workmen's Compensation Act 1952.

On Feb 4 this year, a magistrate's court of Sibu declared a fine of RM2,800, in default three weeks in prison, on a company for failure in making minimum wage payment to its employees.

According to Magistrate Iris Awen Jon, the offence is framed under Section 43 of National Wages Consultative Council Act 2011.

An accumulated amount of RM3,849.21 in the differences in wages was also ordered by the court to be compensated to the workers who had filed the complaints.

“These charges not only serve as a stern reminder to all employers in the private sector to never violate the Minimum Wages Order and the labour laws applicable in Sarawak, but also to raise the awareness among the employees of their rights and interests as members of the workforce,” said Department of Labour Sarawak director Awang Raduan Awang Omar in a statement.