Metal plant being probed over filthy workers’ dorms

IPOH: A metal manufacturing factory at the Pengkalan 2 Industrial Area is being investigated by the state Labour Department for housing its workers in allegedly unsuitable and filthy dormitories.

Perak Labour Department director Muhamad Fauzi Abd Ghani said they found the company had failed to provide clean and proper dormitories for its workers.

“It was filthy and in bad condition. There was no physical distancing at the container-dormitories and the air ventilation was poor,” he said after the factory visit yesterday.

Muhamad Fauzi said the company had failed to comply with the Worker’s Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446).

“While we have yet to measure the size of the container, there should be only six to seven workers per container. However, based on the name list we have, there are at least 10 workers in each container,” he said.

Under Act 446, if the company is found guilty, the employer could be fined a maximum of RM50,000.

Muhamad Fauzi said the department would continue to conduct inspections at all nearby factories.

“Based on the information we received, there are at least 18 dormitories from different companies here. All of them have also not applied for the certificate,” he said.

Muhamad Fauzi said there should not be any excuse for companies to not apply for the certificate.

“We have at least six offices in the state, in Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Ipoh, Tapah, Teluk Intan and Setiawan. Companies should go to one of the offices and apply for the certificate,” he said.