Nepalis who rioted return to work

KUALA LUMPUR: All the Nepali workers who rioted at their electronics plant in Kulaijaya earlier this week over alleged mistreatment by their employers have returned to work.

Nepali ambassador to Malaysia Dr Niranjan Man Singh Basnyat said their demands have been met by the company and they went back to work yesterday morning.

Among the demands was for a 24-hour clinic within the JCY HDD Technology Sdn Bhd factory in the Kelapa Sawit Industrial Area.

The 800 workers went on strike on Tuesday, following a similar incident involving some 1,500 workers at the company’s branch in the Tebrau IV Industrial Area, near Johor Baru on Aug 21.

The strike was over the company’s alleged negligence in handling the health issue of worker Karka Bahadur Nirbula, leading to his death. Dr Niranjan said the worker had been sick for about five days due to a respiratory problem.

“His friends took him to a hospital because there was no medical facility within the factory compound. He died on the way to the hospital,” said Dr Niranjan, when interviewed yesterday.

“The embassy was on top of the crisis from the beginning,” he said, adding deputy chief of mission Hemlal Sharma Bhattarai was sent to Johor to mediate between the company’s management and the workers.

In JOHOR BARU, the management of JCY HDD Technology said they had started a probe into all claims against the company by the foreign workers at their two plants.

“We are unaware of any mistreatment of workers as alleged to the media and we have initiated our own investigations on the matter. We will take steps to further improve the communication,” a spokesman said.

The company also extended its condolences to the family and friends of the dead worker and condemned all acts of violence that had purportedly occurred.

On allegations of mistreatment, the company affirmed that it will abide by all regulations and provide workers with a minimum wage of RM900, and accommodation with basic amenities. The company will also provide a 24-hour in-house medical clinic at its plant in Tebrau and have appointed panel clinics for workers in Kulaijaya.