Jamilah (right) interviewing one of the non-resident workers at one of the coffee shops at MJC Batu Kawah this morning. – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: The enforcement officers from the Sarawak Labour Department (SLD) throughout the state conducted surprise checks at the food outlets which started at 8am this morning until 1pm this afternoon.
According to SLD head of Labour Standards Jamilah Putit, these operations were conducted to ensure that food industry employers abide by all labour laws in Sarawak especially the Sarawak Labour Ordinance Chapter 76.
“These operations will focus on some provisions of law, take for example, the minimum wages 2016.
“Apart from that, we will also check on the employers’ terms and conditions when they hire their workers like the leave entitlement, sick leave, paid public holidays, overtime and other benefits,” said Jamilah after leading a group of SLD enforcement officers to conduct inspection on one of the coffee shops at MJC Batu Kawah here this morning.
Apart from inspecting and checking the terms and conditions prepared by the employers for their employees, SLD also conducted checks on “underaged and young person” and non-residents (not Sarawakian or a foreigner) categories.
She said during the operations, if there’s any violation of law, SLD will issue notifications of violations for the companies to comply.
“But there are some companies which we don’t issue notifications of violations at all but issue them with Investigation Papers (IP) like those violating Section 119 of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance that is employing non-residents without license from the Director of Labour Department,” she added.
This morning’s operation, which was randomly conducted at one of the coffee shops in MJC Batu Kawah saw a food court operator being served with an IP after being found to have employed more than 30 non-resident workers without obtaining license from the Director of Labour Sarawak.
SLD which is headquartered at Simpang Tiga, has its offices in Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Saratok, Sarikei, Mukah, Sibu, Kapit, Bakun, Bintulu, Limbang, Lawas, Miri and Marudi.