KUCHING: The Ministry of Human Resources (MoHR) will be conducting inspections on more than 90 employers in Kuching, Kota Samarahan and Serian during a three-day integrated operation.
The state-level operation involving five departments and agencies under MoHR is being carried out from today until Thursday (July 27).
A total of 30 enforcement officers from the Sarawak Labour Department, Sarawak Social Security Organization (SOCSO), Regulatory and Enforcement Branch, Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), and Human Resource Development (HRD) are involved.
Sarawak Labour Department director Awang Raduan Awang Omar told reporters the operation is the first one to be conducted and will be expanded to other districts in the future.
“For our department, we will enforce the Sarawak Labour Ordinance and look into salary payment, leaves and other rights that the employers need to pay attention to.
“We will also look at the condition of the premises, whether it is satisfactory or not,” he said after officiating at the state-level MoHR integrated operation at Wisma PERKESO.
Also present were Sarawak SOCSO director Tan Phang Chia and MoHR Inspectorate and Enforcement Division head Mohd Hazim Mohd Rejab.
In this integrated operation, these five departments and agencies have their respective laws to enforce.
For SOCSO, they have the Employees’ Social Security Act (Act 4) or the Employment Insurance System (Act 800), either to provide awareness (on the acts) or enforce them.
As for DOSH, they have the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and other laws under HRDF.
In his speech, Awang Raduan said among the objectives of the operation is to optimise the use of the existing workforce, ensure compliance with labour laws, and strengthen the enforcement activities of each department and agency.
The other objectives are to share information and labour data of departments and agencies under the ministry as a whole, plan for systematic and orderly enforcement, and help regulatory and enforcement branches carry out the enforcement under Human Resource Development Berhad Act 2001.
“Surely, our efforts will yield results that will benefit the workers in this state.
“In addition to conducting inspections on employers, enforcement officers will also provide awareness and knowledge to employers and workers so that they are more aware of the country’s labour laws.
“It is our duty under MoHR to look after the rights, welfare, safety and harmony of workers, especially in this state,” he said.
He urged enforcement officers to pay attention to the rights, welfare and safety of workers to ensure they not neglected by employers.
This is also to ensure that the employers do not violate the laws that are being enforced.
“It is our duty and responsibility to correct wrong actions, processes and procedures of employers,” he added.
