WFW APP COVERS 14 TYPES OF COMPLAINTS

EMPLOYEES – local and foreign – can now immediately lodge a labour-related complaint to the Human Resources Ministry via the new WFW mobile app.

Workers are required to first register their details on the app – passports for foreign workers and MyKad for Malaysian citizens.

All details of the complainant, says the Human Resources Ministry, will be confidential and the worker can report 14 types of complaints.

There is no need for work permit or visa eligibility, thus foreign workers whose permit has expired can also use the app to file complaints.

The 14 types of complaints include contract dispute between employee and employer, late payment of salary, being forced to work during leave, unfair dismissal, not reporting employment of foreign workers, and improper treatment.

The complainant can write their grievances in English or Bahasa Malaysia as well as attach a picture as proof of physical abuse or incomplete documents.

The Human Resources Ministry said that complaints will be looked into by 80 Labour Offices nationwide under the ministry’s Labour Department, with action promised within three to seven days.

The top management of the Human Resources Ministry, including minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan and his deputy Datuk Awang Hashim, will monitor the real time response to ensure that the app actually helps to solve the problems of workers who make the complaints.

The ministry further said that in line with digitalisation, the WFW app will be the medium to ensure that the rights and welfare of workers impacted by errant employers do not continue to happen.

Such an app is to also compel employers to comply with the labour laws in the country.

The app, which can be downloaded for free, is an initiative by the Human Resources Ministry to address the increasing labour malpractices by unscrupulous employers, as workers suffer silently with nowhere to turn to for help.

The ministry said that in the past, most cases of workers who were denied their labour rights only come to the fore through NGOs, the media or when the situation had already gotten out of hand.

“Workers fear losing their job and sometimes, are threatened not to do so, and this has forced them to suffer in silence when the country has all the labour laws in line with the International Labour Organisation and other international requirements.

“This WFW app will enable such workers to be protected without compromising their safety, ” said the Human Resources Ministry, stating that all employers and foreign consulates and embassies should urge their workers and citizens to register on WFW.