Pay your former employees, MTUC tells Utusan Melayu

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has urged Utusan Melayu Sdn Bhd to speed up paying compensation to its laid-off workers, saying that many had suffered financially since the company was closed down in 2019.

In a statement, MTUC secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor criticised the company's top management, which he said had washed its hands off and left its former employees to fend for themselves.

"MTUC reminds the company that it is their responsibility to settle all compensation to the former employees, who had spent their younger days contributing to the company and making profits for the company, which enabled it to purchase many assets and properties worth millions of ringgit," he said.

Kamarul also urged the government to blacklist board members of companies that do not settle arrears with their former staff.

"Making former employees fight for their right to compensation from Utusan clearly shows the kind of person its board members are. They are crooked and unfit to manage a company.

"MTUC suggests that the government bans all board members of any company which fails to pay compensation to their former employees from being allowed to join any other company's management board," he said.

Kamarul's statement came days after the High Court in Kuala Lumpur ruled that former Utusan Melayu staff involved in its voluntary separation scheme (VSS) exercise in 2019 are entitled to the proceeds from the sales of the properties owned by the company and its subsidiaries.

Utusan Melayu VSS staff are trustees, not creditors - High Court judge

At least 40 editorial staff members among over 100 retrenched by The Star

Industrial court sets aside NUJ's challenge against Sin Chew

Utusan back in publication, vows 'credible, objective' reporting

Utusan Malaysia set to return in July

Top magazine publisher shutters operations, 180 jobless as 19 publications fold

The Edge Financial Daily ends run after 13 years