CAMERON HIGHLANDS - According to Bernama, an Indonesian couple was found living in a cramped and poorly maintained room during a joint operation by the Peninsular Malaysia Department of Labour (JTKSM) in Cameron Highlands, Perak, last Tuesday.

The couple, 28-year-old Hamidi and his 27-year-old wife Mutimatul Hasanah, were among 14 local and 63 foreign workers from Indonesia and Bangladesh checked during the inspection.

The deputy director-general (operations), Betty Hasan said her team inspected nine employers from the construction, service, and agriculture sectors to ensure compliance with Malaysia’s labour laws.

"We want to enforce the act, we want to see how employers comply with the law because we do provide labour education but we find during inspections that many employers are not compliant.

"For example, cash payment of wages, poor accommodation lacking basic amenities, worker safety and essential facilities are not taken into account by employers, that is why we want to take enforcement action against employers," she said based on Bernama.

A total of 28 investigation papers were opened for offences under the Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation and Amenities Act 1990, the Employment Act 1955, and the National Wages Consultative Council Act 2011.

The violations included the absence of work contracts, missing salary slips, non-compliance with minimum wage rules, and failure to notify JTK of business operations.

The enforcement involved 80 officers from various agencies, including the Council for Anti-Trafifficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (MAPO), the Immigration Department (JIM), the police, Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), and Social Security Organisation (Socso).

Authorities said action would be taken through fines and court proceedings for the offences identified.