KUALA LUMPUR – Just a day after the Human Resources Ministry introduced a new complaint category in its Working for Workers (WFW) mobile application, nine reports have been received alleging employers are forcing staff to work from office.
This happened despite the government’s announcement that 40% of workers in the private sector must work from home effective May 25 (tomorrow) to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection.
According to Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, the complaints – that bosses are not allowing employees to work from home – were received by the ministry as of 9am today.
“Any staff forced to be present in office, and which goes against the additional movement control order (MCO) restrictions, are urged to file a complaint through WFW.
“The ministry, through its departments, will initiate investigation under the relevant laws.
“Information from these investigations will then be referred to the International Trade and Industry Ministry, or the Health Ministry if there are breaches of standard operating procedures under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988 (Act 342).”
The WFW application was first launched on May 3, offering a platform for 15.7 million workers in the country, including foreigners, to submit complaints related to 17 different labour issues.
Saravanan had previously assured that the identity of the complainants would be confidential, and that any report the application received will be addressed between three and seven days.
To date, Saravanan said the application has received a total of 178 complaints under all 17 categories, 105 of which are lodged by local workers.
Kuala Lumpur has the greatest number of complaints with 75 cases, followed by Selangor (44) and Johor (21).
“Among the complaints we received the most are related to delay in salary payment, wages not being paid at all, dismissal without notice, and not providing an employment contract,” he said. – The Vibes, May 24, 2021
