The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) has called for a tripartite meeting of government, employers and employees' representatives to be held soon to address foreign workers' housing issues to prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases.
MTUC secretary-general J. Solomon said the meeting was important to finding a solution to the issues and reaching a consensus.
"This kind of dialogue is not taking place at the moment. Although employees and employers may not agree on something, there should still be an avenue for these representatives to sit down and engage, to form some sense of decision," he said.
He added that the government must be willing to intervene if there was no consensus and make a decision for the good of all parties.
"The government must convene a tripartite meeting at the National Labour Advisory Council and start looking for a solution to the issues because there have been a lot of workers' issues of late," he told Bernama yesterday.
The MTUC had earlier called on relevant authorities to investigate work places and foreign workers' dormitories nationwide after receiving reports of cramped living conditions which did not meet the standard housing accommodation permissible under the law.
A total of 187 new COVID-19 cases were recorded yesterday (May 26), with the majority involving foreigners, and authorities had identified cramped living conditions and poor hygiene as the the main causes of infection among foreign workers.
Solomon said employers needed to provide facilities in accordance with the law and to also consider humanitarian grounds when employing any worker.
"The law states that you have to give them (foreign workers) a minimum wage and provide a safe place for them to stay, which means cramming 17 to 30 people into one shop lot is unlawful," he said.
He added that employers were aware of the standard of living condition that workers deserved to be provided with as they've been advised by various agencies on the specifications.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu May 28 2020
MTUC had called on relevant authorities to investigate work places and foreign workers' dormitories after receiving reports of cramped living conditions which did not meet standard housing accommodation permissible under the law.
Kontroversi UM: Bukan untuk sekat kebebasan universiti - Zambry
Kebebasan yang diberi perlu mengambil kira polisi serta pendirian kerajaan di samping sensitiviti masyarakat dan majoriti rakyat.
Kekejaman zionis: Gaza lepasi ambang kebuluran enam minggu akan datang - WFP
Semenanjung Gaza bakal melepasi ambang kebuluran iaitu ketidakamanan makanan, kekurangan zat makanan dan kematian.
Kekejaman zionis: Halalkan penempatan haram di Tebing Barat berbahaya - A.S
Membenarkan penempatan haram di Tebing Barat akan menjadi tindakan berbahaya dan melulu.
JDT lancar jersi baharu bagi musim 2024
Jersi berwarna biru dan merah untuk beraksi di gelanggang keramat mereka manakala jersi berwarna putih untuk perlawanan di gelanggang lawan.
Kekejaman zionis: Israel langgar undang-undang antarabangsa - Badan pemantau
Sebuah kumpulan pemerhati dan pemantau berkata, Israel telah melanggar undang-undang antarabangsa dan hak asasi manusia di Gaza.
[LAPOR LANGSUNG] Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Cucu Nelson Mandela antara peserta misi bantuan
Penyertaannya dalam misi ini bagi sama-sama menyokong misi memecah sekatan rejim Israel bagi membolehkan penghantaran bantuan ke Gaza.
MYIPO sedia jaringan perlindungan, ayuh daftar sekarang
Tahap kesedaran masyarakat terutama komuniti industri perniagaan tempatan dalam mendaftar harta intelek masih rendah. Ketua Pengarah Perbadanan Harta Intelek Malaysia (MyIPO), Kamal Kormin, pendaftaran dibuat melalui perbadanan ini membolehkan syarikat serta pemilik entiti perniagaan mendapat jaringan keselamatan terutama dari segi perlindungan hak cipta serta pelbagai faedah lain.
Anugerah Media Digital Asia 2024 iktiraf agensi berita gunakan strategi media digital
Ia menerima 136 penyertaan tahun ini daripada pelbagai agensi berita serta media di rantau Asia termasuk Malaysia, Singapura, Indonesia.
Lapan mangsa tragedi selamat dikebumikan
Kesedihan ahli keluarga dan waris mengiringi perjalanan terakhir mangsa tragedi helikopter terhempas di Pangkalan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) Lumut, Perak di beberapa lokasi pengebumian di seluruh negara pada malam Rabu.
JKM bantu kaunseling keluarga mangsa nahas helikopter Lumut
Salbiah berkata pihak JKM telah melawat tiga keluarga mangsa dari Perak iaitu di Selama, Lekir dan Sitiawan.