JTKSM: 637 compounds worth RM4.01 million issued to errant employers last year
Its director-general Kamal Pardi said the compounds were issued to 341 employers for various offences under the Employment Act 1955, the Employees' Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations dan Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446), and the Minimum Wages Order.
'Throughout last year, a total of 1,277 investigation papers were opened, resulting in 352 prosecutions against employers who either failed to comply with or deliberately evaded the provisions of these acts,' he said.
'Based on our records, the most common offences committed by employers were violations under the Employment Act 1955 and Act 446,' he told reporters after the Minimum Wages operation conducted at a shopping mall in Banda Hilir, here, today.
The operation, held simultaneously nationwide, involved inspections of 35 security service companies and was carried out by a team of 100 officers and personnel from JTKSM and the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso).
He added that throughout last year, JTKSM handled a total of 9,991 complaints involving various worker-related issues, including employee welfare. Of that number, 97.35 per cent, or 9,726 complaints, were successfully resolved.
Earlier during the operation, a Kuala Lumpur-based security services company was issued a compound of RM50,000 for failing to obtain a worker accommodation certificate from JTKSM.
He said the worker accommodation provided by the security services company was located in a shophouse unit at Plaza Mahkota, which housed 11 Nepalese nationals employed as security guards at the shopping centre.
'Other offences committed by the employer included failure to comply with the minimum wage requirement and not providing basic facilities such as proper beds and mattresses, as stipulated by law. Each of these offences is also liable to a compound,' he said.
In the meantime, he said the department's enforcement operations throughout April were focused on ensuring compliance with the Minimum Wages Order, particularly within the security services sector.
This move comes in response to a surge in complaints from workers in the industry who claimed they had not been paid the minimum wage, which has been in effect since Feb 1.
'Since the implementation of the Minimum Wages Order, until yesterday, JTKSM has received 22 complaints related to minimum wage violations in the security sector, all of which have been successfully resolved,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Seniors back in action as thousands re-enter workforce
PETALING JAYA: Thousands of Malaysians past retirement age are rejoining the workforce under a government push to harness their skills and experience, backed by new incentives, training programmes and legal safeguards. From Jan to Aug this year, 2,317 job seekers aged 60 and above actively sought work, with 265 successfully placed in various sectors, according to the Social Security Organisation (Socso). The Human Resources Ministry regards senior citizens as 'productive assets' and is committed to expanding their role in the labour market through targeted initiatives. 'All senior citizen employment programmes are coordinated through the employment subcommittee under the technical committee of the National Senior Citizens' Policy,' the ministry said in a written reply. One of the flagship measures is Socso's dedicated Profiling Programme, which collects data on senior citizens' education, skills, work history and interests to connect them with suitable vacancies. Under the 2024 Budget, Socso introduced the Daya Kerjaya Programme 2.0, offering wage incentives to employers who hire vulnerable groups, including seniors. As of August, 3,505 employers have hired seniors through the scheme, benefiting 5,754 individuals. The ministry, via the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), has also launched the Madani training programme to improve training and job placement efficiency, targeting workers in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), persons with disabilities, retirees and ex-offenders. Initiatives include Seniors Back in Action, Second Chances and Opportunities for People to Excel, PWD (people with disabilities) Development and MSME Development. TalentCorp's Senior Citizens Back to Work programme has also engaged more than 500 seniors in skills development workshops, while the ministry is boosting opportunities in the care industry, which is seen as well-suited for older workers.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Over 300,000 Malaysians above 60 actively contribute to PERKESO as of May
KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysia approaches an ageing population milestone, a total of 317,521 senior citizens aged 60 and above are actively contributing to the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) as of May 31 this year. According to the Human Resources Ministry, PERKESO's statistics also showed that as of May 31, there are 110,741 self-employed individuals aged 60 and above, who are actively contributing under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS). "Older workers, aged 60 and above, who are engaged in part-time formal sector employment to sustain their livelihoods, are eligible for protection under the Employment Injury Scheme of the Workers' Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4). "The contribution rate is determined according to the Second Schedule and is solely paid by the employer," it said in a written Parliament reply to Datuk Seri M. Saravanan (BN-Tapah) on Wednesday (Aug 13). Saravanan asked if PERKESO has plans to widen its coverage to retirees who are still doing part-time jobs to support themselves. For self-employed senior citizens in the informal sector, protection is provided under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 (Act 789). This Act safeguards individuals from occupational hazards, including work-related illnesses and accidents, even during travel related to their employment activities. According to the Statistics Department and reports, Malaysia is facing the challenges of an ageing population, with projections indicating that 15.3% of citizens will be aged 60 and above by 2030. This demographic shift has prompted the government to enhance social security measures for older adults. The retirement age in Malaysia is currently set at 60, but many seniors continue to work to support themselves, emphasising the need for robust social security protections.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Employers dodging Perkeso contributions
The recent announcement by the Social Security Organisation, better known as Perkeso, that one in five workers — local and foreign — is without workplace accident or occupational disease coverage should worry the authorities into action. Based on the Statistics Department's employment figures, one in five means a whopping 2.5 million workers left out in the cold. And what is worse, these workers do not know that they have been deprived of the protection, all due to employers' non-compliance. Should workers be involved in workplace accidents or contract occupational diseases, they would be victims without remedies. As usual, our errant employers have a pile of excuses, several of which are just nonsense on stilts. Some lobby their associations to hawk their excuses so that they would be spared the legal consequences. Do not fall prey to such preposterous pleas, we tell the associations. Here are four silly ones, repeated ad infinitum. Remote working locations. A pathetic excuse at best. High turnover is another. A third is reliance on outsourced labour contractors. The rule is clear: it is the responsibility of the "principal" employer, not labour contractors. Work may be outsourced, not responsibility. Finally, limited administrative staff. How difficult is it for the employer to assign the task of registering their workers with Perkeso and making monthly contributions? We are not ruling out a few genuine cases of employers facing issues, but most choose not to comply because of the extra costs involved. As Perkeso group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed put it to this newspaper on Sunday, non-compliance among employers of Malaysian workers was rampant in the hospitality, food and beverage, manufacturing, wholesale and retail sectors. As for employers of foreign workers, the leading sectors with the highest dodgers are in construction, plantation, agriculture, manufacturing and services such as cleaning, hospitality and security. Employers who continue to trifle with their Perkeso contributions must know this: they are not optional but mandatory, meaning non-compliance will result in fines, and in appropriate cases, imprisonment. Admittedly, there might be cases, such as those that involve foreign workers, whose employers think that registering for Foreign Workers Compensation Scheme is enough. But how do the employers explain not making any Perkeso contributions for their local workers? Surely there isn't any system integration problem with the Immigration Department that employers love to quote. Let's be blunt. Many employers just don't want to part with the extra money Perkeso contributions would cost. Here is the thing. While complaining of thin margins, they pass the extra costs to the consumers ultimately. These non-compliant employers want to keep the cake and eat it. So they rather break the law. Dodgers must thank Perkeso for giving them countless opportunities to mend their ways. Leniency and amnesty programmes have been showered on errant employers, yet many continue breaking the law, caring very little for the welfare of the workers who have earned them the wealth they have accumulated. Such irresponsible employers deserve no leniency. Enough is enough. The dodgers have trifled with Perkeso contributions for too long to deserve any sympathy.
