Negligence among reasons employers fail to provide proper accommodation for workers, say Labour Dept

SEREMBAN: Employers’ negligence and profit-driven mindset are cited as reasons why they fail to provide conducive living space for their workers, says the Negri Sembilan Labour Department.

Its director Roslan Bahari said that such a situation should not occur, as employers must abide by the regulations set forth in the Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation and Employee Facilities Act 1990 (Act 446).

“They find it easier to place (their workers) here (in illegal housing) as it’s cost-free, although under the law, employers can deduct a maximum of RM100 from the employees’ salaries for accommodation; unfortunately, many employers fail to take this initiative.

“Employers have the option to offer good living quarters (to their workers) and obtain certification from the Labour Department, but some employers still fail to comply and opt for unsuitable accommodations for their workers,” he told reporters in conjunction with Op Gegar here.

State Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Climate Change, Cooperatives and Consumerism Committee chairman S. Veerapan was reported to have said that employers in Negri Sembilan have been given three months from Wednesday (Feb 28) to relocate workers residing in illegal accommodation to 25 centralised worker’s quarters (CLQ) throughout the state.

Meanwhile, Roslan said 16 investigation papers were opened for various violations under the Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation, and Employee Facilities Act 1990 (Act 446) in the state from January 2023 to February this year.

He also said that the Labour Department has identified three locations as hotspots for offences under the act, namely Nilai, Senawang, and Mantin.

In the meantime, Roslan said that employers need to ensure the cleanliness and adequate maintenance of workers’ accommodations to mitigate the risk of various diseases, such as leptospirosis. – BK