Headscarf company pleads not guilty to charges of breaching Employment Act

KAJANG: A headscarf producing firm, Fareeda Productions Sdn Bhd was charged in the magistrate's court here yesterday with nine counts of breaching the Employment Act 1955 by not providing salary on time, no payment for overtime work and making unlawful salary deductions of four employees, two years ago.
The company, represented by its Human Resource executive Nur Fathiah Sobry, pleaded not guilty to all the charges after the case came up for mention before Magistrate Fadzilatul Isma Ahmad Refngah.
The court fixed April 23 and 24 for trial.
On two of the counts, the company is alleged to have deducted the salary of staff member Noor Shaheera Mohd Nor, amounting to RM130 for 'Commission Reduction Penalty' in May 2016, and of Nur Fatihah Zahar for 'Others', amounting to RM50, which is contrary to the provisions under Section 24 of the Employment Act 1955.
The company was also charged with three counts of delaying salary payments to Nur Fatihah, Noor Shaheera, and Nur Suhana Veera Gnnie, who were supposed to be paid before July 27, 2016.
The company also pleaded not guilty to four counts of failing to pay extra-time wages on weekdays for the month of July 2016, to the three workers, as well as an Indonesian worker, Hartutik, totalling RM127.89.
All the offences were allegedly committed at the premises of the company at the Bangi Industrial Area in Section 13, Bandar Baru Bangi on May 31 and July 30, 2016.
The charge under Section 19(1) and 19(c) of the Employment Act 1955, which is punishable under Section 99A of the same Act, carries a fine of up to RM10,000 for each count, upon conviction.
The prosecution was represented by the Labour Department's DPP Nor Fathiyah Mohd Yassin, while the company was represented by lawyer Nur Azimul Azami. — Bernama