KUALA LUMPUR, January 18 – Human Resources Minister Steven Sim announced today that 751 foreign workers, who were deceived with non-existent jobs in Pengerang, Johor, have collectively filed a claim of RM2.21 million for unpaid wages. Addressing the issue in a joint press conference with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at Kompleks Setia Perdana, Sim stated that the claim is made under Section 69 of the Employment Act.
The case will be mentioned on February 5, and the labour court proceedings will take place in Pengerang due to the workers’ constraints in traveling to Kuala Lumpur. Sim added that the Johor Labour Department is conducting 13 investigations against five employers for non-compliance with Act 446 regarding Employee Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation, and Amenities.
The outcomes of the investigations will be reviewed by the deputy public prosecutor tomorrow, and appropriate actions will be taken. In a related incident in December last year, 171 Bangladeshi workers were apprehended by the police in Pengerang for alleged overstaying when they were preparing to file police reports against their employers.
