Pulau pangkor: A total of four fishing premises were inspected involving 49 workers, comprising 44 foreign nationals from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Indonesia, as well as five local workers during the Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Enforcement Operation, off the waters of Pulau Pangkor yesterday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director Maritime Captain Mohamad Shukri Khotob said in a statement today that the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Perak Labour Department (JTK), involving 37 officers and personnel from both agencies.
"The inspection found that several employers are suspected of committing various labour law violations, including failing to notify the Labour Office of the hiring of foreign workers within 14 days from the date of hiring as stipulated under the Employment Act 1955," he said.
In addition, he said the inspection also found that there were employers who paid wages in cash without providing employment contracts and pay slips, paying wages below the minimum wage rate set under the National Wages Consultative Council Act 2011.
He said there are also employers who failed to obtain the Certificate of Accommodation from the Labour Department as required under the Employees Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation and Employee Amenities Act 1990.
Mohamad Shukri said that all the employers involved are being investigated and further action will be taken by the Perak JTK in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.
According to him, the integrated operations focused on inspecting fishing premises to ensure compliance with labour laws, detecting elements of human trafficking, and combating labour exploitation, particularly involving foreign workers.
The integrated operations was part of the government's ongoing efforts to strengthen cross-agency enforcement to ensure the welfare of workers is continuously protected, while also combating any form of employment law violations.
"Operations like these demonstrate the continuous commitment of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency alongside other enforcement agencies in ensuring that every employer complies with the prevailing laws, thereby curbing any form of human trafficking and labour exploitation," he also said.
He added that the public can provide any information related to criminal activities at sea or maritime offences to the Perak Maritime Operations Centre at 05-683 8737 or the emergency line 999 for immediate action.