KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry through the Department of Labour will continue to monitor and carry out investigations on companies as part of the efforts to eradicate forced labour and human trafficking in the country.
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim said this was in line with the target set by the government to eliminate forced labour in Malaysia by 2030.
Awang said this in his response to a question by Senator Noraini Idris at the Dewan Negara today who asked on actions by the ministry against the management of human resources at ATA IMS Bhd in Johor Baru. The said company was allegedly accused of labour exploitation and oppression in a report by international news portal Channel 4 News.
The Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia, said Awang, had carried investigations against ATA IMS on May 25 last year following an urgent request to investigate the company regarding accommodation standards.
“The investigation showed that five units of accommodation prepared by the employer did not have the Certificate of Accommodation (COA).
“The accommodation, however, is in good condition and suitable (meet the standards) as outlined by Act 446 (the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990).
“The department opened four investigation papers under the Section 24D in its probe on the case (for not having COA), in which, ATA IMS was issued compounds for each of the offences,” said Awang.
Although he did not state the amount of compounds, it was reported that the total amount of compounds were RM200,000.
In a bourse filing in December last year, ATA IMS had said the four summonses were issued to its wholly-owned ATA Industrial (M) Sdn Bhd for having temporarily accommodated nine workers in premises that did not have the COA.
Awang added that the department together with the Immigration Department also carried out another round of investigation against ATA IMS on July 3 the same year.
The investigation, said Awang, were launched against the company following allegations of extra work and overtime of 186 hours which exceeded the legal limit, as well as debt bondage.
“The investigation found the work and overtime hours were within the legal limit as stated in Employment Act 1955.
“However, the investigation also found violation in the calculation and delay in the payment of wages.
“The company later complied with the Act after they have been issued with compliance notice by the department (Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia),” he said.
Source: New Straits Times
