[ad_1]
IPOH: The authorities who raided the shelters for the workers of a glove manufacturer here found that these places were crowded and dirty.
The director of the Department of Labor, Mohd Asri Abdul Wahab, said that the company had not adhered to the Minimum Standards of Housing and Services for Workers Act of 1990.
“Each shelter is supposed to have 10 to 12 workers, however we found that some units housed 15 to 20 workers each.
“During our inspection of the 13 shelters, which are two-story houses, we discovered that the mattress and beds were in the dining and living areas,” he told reporters after visiting the shelters located in Tasek here on Thursday ( November 26).
The operation was carried out after an increase in Covid-19 cases linked to the company’s factory in Selangor.
Mohd Asri said the operation was assisted by the Perak Labor Department and the state Health Department.
“We are also conducting similar operations in Johor, Kelantan, Kedah and Negri Sembilan, involving subsidiary factories of the same company.
“During the raid, we discovered that the company had not kept the houses clean.
“There were gas cylinders for cooking and clothes scattered everywhere,” he said.
He added that by law, a two-story house with three or four rooms can only accommodate 10 to 12 people and workers can only sleep in rooms if the shelter is a semi-detached house.
“It will take us about two weeks to complete the investigation, as we need to verify the size of the shelter and get the details of each worker who is staying in the shelters.”
“At the moment, we have recorded statements from the employer and several workers.
“If the company is found guilty, the employer could be fined a maximum of RM50,000 per worker,” he said, adding that the government had given the company a grace period for compliance until September 1.
“We are already in November, therefore by right, all employers must be aware of the Law and request a certificate of recognition of accommodation that can be done online on our website,” he said, adding that the company did not have with the certificate.
Meanwhile, the Perak Health Department inspector and head of the legal unit, Ahmad Fakurazi Abu Bakar, said the shelter will also undergo a clean-up process.
On November 24, the factory workers’ dormitory and surrounding areas in Kapar, Klang were placed under an improved movement control (MCO) order.
COVID-19 WATCH
MEASUREMENTS
Shelter, Workers’ Rooms, Gloves, Covid-19, Department of Labor
[ad_2]
