Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Human Resources Minister Mustapha Sakmud warned local and foreign employers to comply with the Sabah Labour Ordinance or face legal action.
He said the Government would take firm action against companies, local or foreign, that fail to meet salary payment terms in line with the Ordinance.
He said this when commenting on the Saturday noon incident where workers resorted to violence against their contractor at a factory construction site in the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) to vent their frustrations over delay in the payment of their overdue salaries.
“I issue this warning to all employers in Sabah: read and understand the Sabah Labour Ordinance. At the same time, I also wish to remind workers to act according to the rule of law,” he said.
Mustapha said some 600 local workers were expecting their March salaries on the first week of the month, as usual, but things got physical after it was delayed for nearly three weeks.
He added that Sabah Labour Department (SLD) Director Wan Zulkfli Wan Setapa had personally mediated discussions between the construction company and workers.
“The employer agreed to settle the payments on April 17 and 18 following the discussion headed by the director, together with the Manggatal police chief, as well as the company and workers’ representatives,” Mustapha told reporters after an iftar event with Kampung Darau residents in Manggatal, near here.
“To ensure this process (salary payment) really does take place, Labour officers will be at the construction site (on Monday and Tuesday) to monitor the situation and possibly hear complaints from other workers,” said the Sepanggar MP.
The incident, believed to have occurred around 1.15pm on Saturday, was caught on camera and video footage widely circulated on social media.
The clips show several men shouting, slapping, punching and kicking the victims, one of whom is heard saying “please” repeatedly.
Following that, police arrested two workers believed to be involved in the assault of a South Korean man during the incident.
Kota Kinabalu Police Chief ACP Zaidi Abdullah said the two were nabbed not long after the 53-year-old victim lodged a report on the incident on Saturday.
He said police have opened investigations under rioting and are looking for two more suspects.
On another note, Mustapha urged Sepanggar residents to get in touch with the Parliamentary Office should they face water disruptions come Aidilfitri.
He said they would try to send out water tankers, adding 395,000 litres of treated water had been delivered to the affected areas.
Mustapha said the “hotspots” were usually those farthest from the Telibong Water Plant in Tamparuli, namely UMS, UITM, Taman Bukit Setia and Kg Gentisan areas.
“Water rationing is like a juggling game with the scarce supply. We will do our best to please all and therefore please inform the Parliamentary Office if you are experiencing water supply disruptions,” he said.
Violence erupted over overdue wages at a construction site at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park near Kota Kinabalu which went viral.
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