An industrial relations officer says arbitrary salary deductions by employers are illegal, pointing out any such deduction must be authorised by the Ministry of Human Resources, and most times will require the employee's consent.

The officer, Peter Kandiah, was commenting on a joint report by Malaysiakini and Tempo yesterday about Maxim Birdnest (M) Sdn Bhd, a bird’s nest factory in Klang, that had been arbitrarily deducting the salaries of its Indonesian staff.

The company has denied employees overtime pay and deducted money from their monthly wages for meals, tax and when they applied for sick leave.