BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Enforcement Division of the Department of Manpower and Employment conducted Operasi Usai 204/2026 in the Kampong Masin area on Sept 2 to enforce and ensure compliance with the Employment Act, Chapter 278, among employers.
Inspections conducted at a workshop involved in the manufacturing of household furniture, as well as the workers’ accommodation, revealed five offences under the Employment Act, Chapter 278, believed to have been committed by the employer against several foreign workers.
The offences included a violation under Section 44 involving salary deductions that were contrary to the provisions of the Employment Act, Chapter 278, and a violation under Section 71, whereby the employer failed to provide paid annual leave to workers.
Three further offences were also identified under Section 112(2), involving breaches of the conditions of the Foreign Workers Licence.
The inspection also uncovered that activities carried out at the premises were inconsistent with those authorised under the employer’s licence, which permitted construction activities, but the premises were found to be manufacturing household furniture for sale to the public.
The authorities also found that foreign workers had been placed at a workplace that was not a construction site.
In addition, foreign workers were discovered to be performing duties that did not correspond with their approved positions, as workers registered under the position of construction worker were instead engaged in manufacturing household furniture.
Further investigations will be carried out into the alleged violations of the Employment Act, Chapter 278.
If found guilty, employers may be issued a compound fine of up to BND1,000 for each offence. Failure to pay the compound fine may result in the employer being brought before the court.
The Department of Labour and Manpower reminded employers to continuously monitor and safeguard the welfare of their workers in accordance with the requirements of the Employment Act, Chapter 278.
The public may contact the Department of Labour and Manpower at 2381848 during working hours or 7298989 outside working hours for further information. – Borneo Bulletin/ANN
