There was a memo put on the signboard at the factory worksite. It claimed that the company Dekor Panel Emas Sdn.Bhd will cease operation in June, 2010 and workers will be retrenched. Two months later suddenly on 25 Jun, 2010, around 19 workers were puzzled when they could not find their punchcard at the factory exit. They were told to come to the office. Suddenly the workers were given immediate termination notices. No compensation was given nor did they receive their Jun salary. Nearly all of them have worked for more than 5 years,and some even for 15 years, were shocked to find the company treating them this way.
There are around 130 workers in Dekor Panel Emas, but only 19 were terminated. Later after consulting comrades from the PSM the workers lodged a report at the Labour Department. On 9th July, the labour department arranged for a meeting between the workers and the management. The workers were represented by comrade V.Selvam and Sivarajan. The company represented by a lawyer named Mr. Chua argued that sufficient notice has been given, thus the workers cannot claim for 2 months of salary in lieu of notice.
“We dispute the company’s rationale. It was memo , not a letter addressed to the individual workers from the management informing the workers that they will be terminated on the 25th June, 2010” explained comrade V.Selvam. The workers also highlighted several pending payments which were still due from the management. The Labour officer then fixed another date for mention to pursue the case.
Sivarajan, PSM
