'Retrenched' employees of The Sun daily may have reason to look forward to Chinese New Year as Human Resources Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn today said that he will make sure they "will receive what they are entitled to".

Malaysiakini was told that the minister had said negotiations between the Labour Department and the newspaper's management, Sun Media Corporation, will have a positive outcome.

"We'll find an amicable solution," Fong had said.

According to the minister, both parties had come to a 'tentative agreement' on the matter of compensation for the 43 staff who were laid off on Jan 11.

Three officials from the department had visited the daily's office in Petaling Jaya on Jan 14.

However, Fong said he was unaware that The Sun management had postponed follow-up meetings with the department on numerous occasions, the last being yesterday.

The minister said he understood the problems the retrenched staff were facing and would try his best to resolve the matter before Chinese New Year in a fortnight.

Meanwhile, National Union of Journalists general secretary Hong Boon Haw confirmed that he had received a call today from Frankie Tay, managing director of The Sun Media Corporation, informing him that the retrenched staff will receive their salary for the period of Jan 1 to Jan 11. They are expected to receive the 11-day pay later tonight or tomorrow morning.

The retrenched journalists, many of whom are unemployed, are beginning to face financial hardship as they had been retrenched without warning. The company had given financial difficulties as reason for the lay-off.

No pay on pay day

Yesterday was pay day at The Sun . However, the retrenched staff were not paid their dues for the month.

The daily's management had also neglected to pay retrenchment compensation for the sacked staff. According to labour regulations, sacked staff must be paid their retrenchment benefits within seven days of being put out of job.

Despite this, the sacked journalists continue to wait for their rightful dues 20 days after being given the marching orders.

About a week ago, fledgling media company Nexnews Bhd announced plans to take over the Sun Media Corporation.

A New Straits Times article yesterday mentioned several new appointments in the editorial department and the marketing department. Malaysiakini was later informed that the purported 'new appointments' did not take place.

The journalists at the paper including those retrenched continued to picket outside the headquarters in Petaling Jaya this evening. The group will also hold a candle light vigil at the same venue at 9pm tomorrow.