Cleaners to get owed wages in full by today

(From left) Nilai assemblyman J. Arul Kumar, Senawang assemblyman P. Gunasekaran and state Labour Department director S. Tharum Rajan at the meeting to sort out the unpaid salary issue. – Pic courtesy of J. Arul Kumar, March 11, 2016.Good news is in store for a group of 40 school contract cleaners who are fighting to get their January and February wages paid in full.

Nilai assemblyman J.Arul Kumar, who is helping the group, said a meeting was called within hours of the group lodging a report with the state Labour Department yesterday.

The meeting at the Negri Sembilan Labour Department office yesterday was attended by Arul, state Labour Department director, S. Tharuma Rajan and the employer.

Senawang assemblyman P. Gunasekaran and four workers' representatives were also present.

"Following the meeting, the employer promised to pay the RM900 February salary for each of the workers by yesterday and the balance of the January salary of RM295 each would be paid by today.

“So the issue should be fully settled by today.

“The employer also promised to pay the monthly salary from this month onwards before or on the 7th of every month,” Arul said.

Arul said the assurance was given by the employer in front of state Labour Department director.

“The state Labour Department director said action will be taken if the employer failed to pay the salary on time in future.

“I will follow up with the workers to make sure they receive all their outstanding salary as promised by the employer.

“I will also bring up the issue of the employer's consistent failure to contribute to the workers' Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and social security (Socso),” he added. – March 11, 2016.