KUCHING, Nov 24: Sarawakians facing unreasonable dismissal from work or retrenchment may lodge a complaint with the Sarawak Labour Department.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Public Complaints Bureau (PCB) chief Wilfred Yap recently attended to such a case after being approached by two individuals seeking legal advice.
“The two individuals were previously employed as car body sprayers and their employer had terminated their employment on short notice and have not paid them the balance of their salary from November 2019 to September 2020.
“The two individuals had also lodged their complaint with the Sarawak Labour Department and their case in the Labour Court has been fixed for hearing in early December 2020,” he revealed in a press release today.
However, Yap disclosed, the two individuals were not proficient in English or Bahasa Malaysia and they were worried that they would not be able to properly present their case in the Labour Court.
“On behalf of the two individuals, we have requested the Labour Department to provide a translator from Chinese to English/Bahasa Malaysia or to allow them to bring their own translator so that they can better communicate and properly present their case during the hearing of their case,” he added.
Yap thus advised all employees who were unaware of their employment rights under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance and those who feel mistreated at their work place to personally visit the Sarawak Labour Department.
“And where necessary, their case would be referred to the Labour Court by the department. The verdict or decision of the Sarawak Labour Court can only be challenged in the High Court,” he elaborated.
The Sarawak Labour Department is located at the 7th and 8th Floor of Bangunan KWSP, Jalan Upland, Simpang Tiga, Kuching.
The Labour Department can assist employees with labour complaints, and workmens’ compensation and labour claims.
“Workers should not suffer in silence but stand up for their benefits and rights and in this respect, SUPP PCB is always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone facing employment issues or problems but does not know how to deal with it,” Yap added.
Anyone requiring assistance may call SUPP Public Complaint Bureau at 016-7797688 or 082-246999 or go directly to the SUPP Head Office here to request for assistance. — DayakDaily
