Ministry probes private university over unpaid wages

The Human Resources Ministry will summon the management of a prominent private university in Selangor following allegations of unpaid wages for the past three months.

In a statement today, the Peninsular Malaysia Labour Department (JTKSM) said it had issued a summons to the university management to appear at the Cyberjaya Labour Office for an investigation.

“JTKSM has received several complaints regarding delayed wage payments to staff by a private university in the capital city through mass media and emails. The JTKSM, through the Cyberjaya Labour Office, has conducted an investigation and found the complaints to be valid.

“The university management admitted that they are currently facing a financial crisis that has led to delayed salary payments in April and May, affecting 93 employees with salaries above RM4,800.

“The investigating officer has issued a summons for the university management to present themselves at the Cyberjaya Labour Office to provide further statements and submit complete documents,” it said.

The department added that out of the total, 86 are local workers and seven are migrant workers.

Some employees have also resigned without providing complete information, complicating the university’s efforts to address this issue promptly especially since it has appointed a new administrative and financial manager.

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Previously, Malaysiakini reported that almost all staff members of a prominent private university in Selangor claimed they had not been paid for the past three months and had called for government intervention.

“In addition to salaries, Employees Provident Fund and Social Security Organisation contributions have also not been settled.

“However, we found that some foreign staff working there have been paid their salaries.

“We want the government to intervene immediately,” one employee told Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity.

Other staff members speaking anonymously to Malaysiakini blamed the university’s financial officer as the cause of the issue.

“This financial officer is Iranian. He often bullies and belittles Malaysian staff, especially Malays.

“We are not sure why he behaves this way. But we are certain he is ‘disrespectful’ to Malaysian staff,” one staff member told Malaysiakini.

Malaysiakini has contacted the university for comment and is withholding its name in the meantime.

Meanwhile, JTKSM will open an investigation paper under Section 19 of the Employment Act 1955 for the offence of delayed salary payments.

JTKSM also advised employees to file labour cases under Section 69 of the Employment Act 1955 for their claims against their employer for outstanding salary payments, payment in lieu of notice, overtime pay, termination benefits, and other entitlements.

“For employees who have complained and have been contacted, they are asked to come to the same labour office to file labour cases according to the procedures of the Employment Act 1955, enabling labour officers to issue orders against the employer.

“This case will be handled in accordance with applicable labour laws under the JTKSM’s jurisdiction without any compromise and we will ensure that employees’ rights are protected, and employers comply with laws related to salary payments.

“JTKSM will also take strict measures to resolve this issue promptly and ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future,” it said.

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