PSM central committee member M Sivaranjani said they received complaints in the last few days from workers affected by the flood who said their employers are pressuring them amid this crisis.

“Their employers are pressuring them by saying they cannot take emergency leaves, their salaries will be cut if they take leave, and they will be fired if they do not contact their employers during this emergency,” she said.

Major flash floods struck the country last weekend, causing massive damage and displacing thousands of people from their homes.

Up to today, rescue and relief efforts are still going on, as well as cleaning efforts in the aftermath.

In a statement issued yesterday, Sivaranjani said there are employees who cannot contact their employers as their phones are dead due to interrupted electricity supply to some areas.

She said there are many more who cannot return to work because their housing situation has not yet been resolved.

Added pressure on the workers

“But the employers are giving them added pressure by forcing them to attend work as well as making salary cuts and threats of being laid off,” she said.

PSM welcomed the government’s announcement that there will be emergency days off given to civil servants due to the floods.

However, Sivaranjani said, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob only encouraged the private sector to provide paid days off to their employees.

“The government and the Human Resources Ministry should issue a circular nationwide to protect these workers, who are suffering due to the flash floods, by allowing them to be given paid emergency leaves for at least one week.

“This is so they can deal with the situation at home and return to work normally.

“In addition to that, the employers should be given a warning or harsh punishment for their inhumane actions towards the workers affected by the floods,” she added.

Malaysiakini

Click here to subscribe to ESSF newsletters in English and/or French.