Kota Kinabalu: Employers in Sabah have been urged to register with the Sabah Labour Department in compliance with the Sabah Labour Ordinance.
“A total of 25,000 employers in Sabah still have not done so,” said State Labour Department Director Wan Zulkfli Wan Setapa during an integrated operation by departments and agencies under the Ministry of Human Resources, here, Wednesday.
Under to Section 59A of the Labour Ordinance (Sabah Chapter 67), any person or employer is required to give a written notification to any nearby Labour Department office regarding employment-related information.
Failure to do so is an offence under Section 130E(f) of the Ordinance and punishable with a fine of up to RM10,000.
Employers, whether new or seasoned, are required to register so that the Sabah Labour Department has a record of their businesses. They can also do so online via https://jtksbh.mohr.gov.my/qrdaftar/.
Data from the Department of Statistics showed that there are 175,000 business premises in Sabah and a total of 152,414 employers are registered with the Sabah Labour Department.
Meanwhile, 60 employers from the service sector, construction, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and information and telecommunications were inspected during the three-day operation in the State Capital, beginning March 6.
As a result, 39 compliance notices were issued and four investigation papers were opened.
Offences included failure to abide by the RM1,500 minimum wage, failure to maintain an employee register on the property, making salary deductions without approval from the Labour Department, hiring non-resident workers without a licence, failure to pay statutory contributions on time, failure to respond to requests for information from the Human Resources Development Fund, failure to register workplace with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Dosh), failure to register machinery used on premises under Dosh and failure to pay interest on late Socso payments.
One of the goals of the operation, according to Wan Zulkfli, is to ensure adherence to labour laws and to enhance the coordinated enforcement efforts of each department and agency.
In addition, maintaining workforce safety and health is another objective.
Employers with more than 10 employees were the main target of the operation.
The Labour Ordinance (Sabah Chapter 67) and Labour Rules, National Wage Consultation Council Act 2011 (Act 732) and Minimum Wage Order, the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4) and the Employees’ Social Security (General) Regulations 1971 are among the Acts that were enforced during the operation.
Also enforced were the Employment Insurance System Act (Act 800), the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, Factories and Machinery Act 1967 and the Human Resource Development Berhad Act 2001 (Act 612).
Wan Zulkfli said the Ministry of Human Resources takes the non-compliance of Acts imposed under the Ministry seriously.
“The requirements of the Acts are constantly being enforced by departments and agencies under the Ministry, and we urge all employers in Sabah to always be aware of and comply with them,” he said.
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