[Malaysia] E-wages will pay salaries in ‘real time’, following workers suicide

Malaysia’s human resources minister said the government’s upcoming e-wages system will allow workers to be paid in ‘real time’, Free Malaysia Today reports.

M Saravanan’s comments followed the tragic case of a foreign worker who took his own life after allegedly being denied his salary for five months.

The human resources minister said the change would ensure all employees were paid before the seventh day of each month, in accordance with the Employment Act 1955. He added that it would also prevent employers from manipulating their workers’ salaries and encourage transparency.

“The image and credibility of the country will also be preserved, especially when it comes to employing foreign workers. The implementation of this system will also indirectly ensure the rights and welfare of workers are protected,” M Saravanan said in a statement.

The minister noted that no such mechanism currently exists in the Malaysian job market.

He also reportedly said the labour department would launch an investigation into the worker’s death, adding that appropriate action should be taken against the employers if the allegations were found to be true.

“Things like this should not happen within the labour market, especially when the country is facing an economic and health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

It was recently reported that a 30-year-old foreign worker had taken his own life because he was frustrated that the company he worked for had failed to pay him for five months.

Malaysia’s human resources minister said the government’s upcoming e-wages system will allow workers to be paid in ‘real time’, Free Malaysia Today reports.

M Saravanan’s comments followed the tragic case of a foreign worker who took his own life after allegedly being denied his salary for five months.

The human resources minister said the change would ensure all employees were paid before the seventh day of each month, in accordance with the Employment Act 1955. He added that it would also prevent employers from manipulating their workers’ salaries and encourage transparency.

“The image and credibility of the country will also be preserved, especially when it comes to employing foreign workers. The implementation of this system will also indirectly ensure the rights and welfare of workers are protected,” M Saravanan said in a statement.

The minister noted that no such mechanism currently exists in the Malaysian job market.

He also reportedly said the labour department would launch an investigation into the worker’s death, adding that appropriate action should be taken against the employers if the allegations were found to be true.

“Things like this should not happen within the labour market, especially when the country is facing an economic and health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

It was recently reported that a 30-year-old foreign worker had taken his own life because he was frustrated that the company he worked for had failed to pay him for five months.