Kota Kinabalu: Laid-off Indonesian and Nepalese employees of Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd (SFI) are among those still waiting for an answer to the company’s unpaid wages of five months.
They will be supporting the upcoming peaceful picket, which is now scheduled for Jan 15 at SFI’s shoplots, from their home country.
Spokesperson for the laid-off workers, Jeffrey Gopog, shared to Daily Express photos of the affected employees who have now been sent back to Indonesia.
In the photos, three individuals - Suprianto, Irwanto and Veronica - were holding papers with handwritten wordings saying they have been sent back to Indonesia and their wages of five months are still unaccounted for.
Jeffrey claimed around 50 Indonesians and three Nepalese were sent back to their home countries.
“The Indonesians have been constantly asking us for updates regarding the unpaid wages,” Jeffrey told Daily Express.
They hail from different parts of Indonesia, namely Jawa, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara.
“Most of the Indonesians and Nepalese were working at the Integrated Timber Complex (ITC), which is responsible for the production of sawn timber and veneer; and the plantation department,” added Jeffrey.
It is understood that the unpaid wages were from April to August 2021.
A peaceful picket was supposed to be held on Jan 8 but was postponed due to legal requirements and advice from the police.
Other than the unpaid wages, the laid-off workers are also seeking an answer to the alleged RM130 million compensation, their employment status and the Christmas token which was supposedly promised to them.
Jeffrey said a permit from the police to hold the peaceful picket has been obtained. “The police have given permission. Around 500 to 600 people are expected to attend.”