Don’t make workers pay, says Sim

Employers cannot force staff to take leave or dock salaries during water cut

BUTTERWORTH: Employers who shut down their operations during the four-day scheduled water cut in Penang from tomorrow cannot force workers to take leave during that period or dock their salaries.

Employers who are found guilty of doing so can face action under the Employment Act 1955 and be fined up to RM50,000, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said.

He said workers who found themselves in such a predicament can lodge complaints with the Labour Department.

“Employers who are unsure about the procedures can also seek advice from the department before making any decision,” he said after his first work visit to the state Social Security Organisation (Socso) headquarters in Seberang Jaya yesterday.

Sim was asked about employers who planned to shut down their operations during the four-day water cut.

Penangites will face a water cut from tomorrow until Sunday which will affect almost 600,000 consumers, including many factories and workplaces. A sizeable number of factories are expected to cease operations during that period as they require plenty of water in their daily operation.

The supply disruption is to allow for valve replacement work at the Sungai Dua water treatment plant and repair work at several locations along the main pipeline.

Earlier, Sim spent about 30 minutes visiting booths and counters at the state Socso headquarters.

He was accompanied by Sosco chairman Datuk Seri Subhan Kamal and its chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.

On the Housewives Social Security Scheme (SKSSR), Sim said men could contribute for their working wives or full-time housewives as long as they are aged below 60.

“The scheme is open to all women, full-time housewives, working or not working. They pay either RM120 per year or RM10 per month,” he said.

Asked if such a scheme would be extended to husbands who are full-time homemakers, he said no such scheme was available yet, but may be considered in the future.

The SKSSR was implemented on Dec 1, 2022 under the Housewives’ Social Security Act 2022, with the goal of providing housewives social security protection against domestic injury, illnesses and invalidity.

Sim also presented a recipient with Early Re-employment Allowance under Socso’s Employment Insurance System. He also handed over Socso schemes amounting to RM91,193.93 to nine other recipients.

Among them was accident victim Che Meh Abdullah, 70, who received a one-off payment of RM8,646.21.

Che Meh, a padi farmer, said he suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident near his house in Permatang Tinggi in 2022.

“This aid can ease my burden a bit after being out of work for more than a year,” he said, adding that he registered for the Selfemployment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS) scheme four months before the accident. He also received allowance of about RM800 a month during his medical leave.

Another recipient Yong Teik Chuan, 59, who was diagnosed with blood cancer last year, felt relieved after his application for Mishap Pension Scheme (Skim Pencen Ilat) was approved.

The former technician said the monthly allowance of RM1,472.94 would be used on his family and for his hospital treatments.