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PETALING JAYA: It has been more than a week since a new law on worker accommodation came into effect, but industries are requesting an extension of up to one year to meet the new requirements.
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) Executive Director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, more time was needed to comply with the Minimum Standards of Housing and Services for Workers Act 1990, which came into effect on September 1.
He said new regulations providing specific requirements that employers must meet were only released on August 28, less than a week before the amended law took effect.
“We need at least a year for the government to guide employers. They shouldn’t pressure us during this trial period, ”he said.
In March, the government announced that employers must provide accommodation for all their workers in all sectors under the law.
The new regulations, among others, require employers and centralized accommodation providers to provide each worker staying in provided accommodation with a single bed measuring no less than 1.7 square meters.
If a double-deck bed is provided, the space between two beds should not be less than 0.7 square meters.
Employers must also provide a mattress at least four inches thick, a pillow and blanket, and a lockable closet (minimum 0.35 m long, 0.35 m wide and 0.9 m high ).
Employers were given three months from June 1 to make arrangements and provide adequate accommodation in accordance with the guidelines for foreign workers in all sectors.
Shamsuddin said that specific regulations, such as providing thick mattresses and specific size cabinets, “will take time.”
“There is no need to push for new requirements as long as we provide an enabling environment and comply with the current SOP,” he said.
“If you had bought a new mattress for an employee a few weeks ago and it is only 3.5 inches thick, does that mean you are not complying with these new regulations?
“Are we expected to switch to a new one? If we look at all the specifics, we deserve more time. “
The MEF call, which represents the largest employer group in the country, follows the call from the Federation of Manufacturers of Malaysia (FMM) for a one-year extension.
FMM President Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai had said that the fine of ringgit 50,000 for each violation was too drastic due to the weakening economy, adding that this would seriously hamper business revival efforts by most industries. .
The president of the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma), Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan, said the body recently met with the Minister of Human Resources, Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, to discuss labor issues and was also mentioned the new law.
“In my opinion, this is not the right time to enforce the Law as the economy is severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic … we are just beginning to breathe.
“The cost of operating a restaurant has increased as we have to spend extra money to buy disinfectants, cleaning detergents, and do regular sanitation to keep the facilities clean,” he said.
Jawahar said the government had also introduced new restrictions on the operating hours of mamak restaurants and this had led to a reduction in profits.
“Having to provide additional housing benefits means additional expenses. I fear that many cannot afford to continue or provide additional facilities because it all comes at a cost, ”said Jawahar, adding that the government should postpone the implementation of the law for another year or until the economy improves.
Bina Puri Holdings Bhd Group CEO Datuk Matthew Tee said the law had noble intentions, but implementation was not being done at the right time.
“All of these measures will result in higher costs and reduce margins that are already low and eroded by unaccounted costs caused by the pandemic,” said Tee, who is the former president of the International Federation of Asian Contractors Associations and the Western Pacific.
Saravanan could not be reached for comment.
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