KLANG: Almost 500 investigation papers have been opened against employers for breaches of labour laws as of Nov 1, says Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad.
Among the most common labour law offences are employers’ failure to make the mandatory contributions to the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) or the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for their workers.
While most employers meet the minimum wage standards, he said many fail to make EPF contributions even after some of their workers have been employed for more than a year.
“There are also cases where the workers need to leave early due to unavoidable family issues such as a sick spouse or parent, but are not paid for the hours they had put in earlier that day. This is a violation of the law.
“I have instructed my officers to resolve these issues within one to two weeks, especially for workers here,” he said during an Op Kurier integrated enforcement operation at a courier storage warehouse here yesterday.
He said the Labour Department had conducted 488 labour enforcement operations nationwide so far this year, with 490 investigation papers having been opened as of Nov 1.
Of these, he said 353 cases have been approved for prosecution, with total fines of RM138,000 and 501 compounds issued amounting to RM2,877,500.
Abdul Rahman said a similar crackdown had also been taken against employers in Sabah with total fines reaching RM87mil.
“Some companies were fined RM50,000, others RM100,000 and so on, with all this money then being channelled back to the affected workers who lodged the complaints.
“I would like to remind other employers to be prepared as we can and will show up at any time. If breaches in labour laws are found, summonses will be issued. This will not be cheap,” he added.
The enforcement operation in Klang involved multiple agencies including the Occupational Safety and Health Department, EPF and the police, who provided security support. The checks focused on wage compliance, working hours, workers’ accommodation, safety standards and statutory contributions.
Abdul Rahman said the integrated approach is key as labour violations are often interconnected, involving not just wage issues but also unsafe workplaces or lack of workers’ welfare.
“Through integrated operations like Op Kurier, we aim to raise employer awareness and strengthen the culture of compliance with labour laws,” he said.
He said whistleblower protection will remain a priority, with the ministry planning to take employers to court and increase penalties if such workers are fired or punished.
Lee, B. (2025, November 5). Nearly 500 labour law breach cases detected. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/11/05/nearly-500-labour-law-breach-cases-detected
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