Nine Indon workers take boss to Labour Court
Published on: Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Nine Indonesian migrant workers have taken their employer to the Labour Court over alleged rights violations, unfair salary deductions, holidays, health benefits and unfair termination. They also alleged that their employer allowed workers to bring their wives and dependents to live in the work premises, which is illegal. According to Indonesian Vice Consul for the Protection of Indonesian Workers and Indonesian Legal Entities Darmawan Purba (pic), it was the first to be brought to the court with full facilitation from the Indonesian Consulate General, here, from case documentation, meeting with employer to case submission, among others.
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He told Daily Express it was one of hundreds of cases of alleged rights violations sitting on his desk. He expected the verdict to have a bearing on his government's policy on its citizens who intend to come to work in Sabah using a social visit pass or even work pass."The Consulate General understands that labour laws in Sabah are spelt out in the State of Sabah Labour Ordinance (Cap. 67). Therefore all the rights and obligations of Indonesian workers are accommodated in the Ordinance as stated in Chapter XII of the Ordinance," he said. He pointed out that when the case was first heard in court on Oct. 6, there were still important questions that needed to be addressed by the State authorities.
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"One of them was about the condition of workers, their wives and dependents, who, after being terminated by the employer, were not sent home to Indonesia. Until now, they are still in Sabah without work, without enough money to eat and are living in fear because their wives and dependents are illegal.""Who should be responsible over them? While waiting for their case to end, who is supposed to provide them a place to stay, food to eat and take care of them when they are sick or in case of an emergency?" asked Darmawan.
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He said he was willing to work with State authorities and all relevant stakeholders to address some of the gaps. The Indonesian Government has put greater emphasis on its citizens working abroad and wants to ensure they feel safer and better protected in the country where they work."From the Government to Government aspect, the case will help build the trust among Indonesian migrant workers in Sabah that there are laws in place that protect them," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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