Three months to renovate quarters

Here we see another side to the palm oil industry. Abuse of their already lowly paid staff. Whilst all this happens, as can be seen in the following article the palm oil industry and respective governments are lying to the EC and UK government. What a greedy, repulsive industry it is.


Friday September 19, 2008

Three months to renovate quarters

By V. CHANDRASEKARAN

THE management of 28 oil palm plantations and rubber estates in the Kuala Muda district in Kedah have been given three months to renovate substandard workers’ quarters or submit housing plans for the construction of new houses.

Labour office senior assistant director Mohd Jarjis Abdullah said the department had issued warning notices failing which action would be taken against errant employers.

He said they were among 38 oil palm plantations and rubber estates which came under the jurisdiction of his office.

According to regulations under Section 5 of Workers Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990, the houses should have at least two rooms, wall partitions between rooms reaching up to the ceiling and inbuilt toilets, he said.

The offence carries a maximum fine of RM2,000 and RM100 for each day delayed in providing the facility.

Mohd Jarjis said recent checks showed many houses had only one room and no proper wall partitions and the toilets were placed outside the house.
He said the latest case was the poor housing facilities and unhygienic living condition found at Kupang Estate in Baling, about 40km from Sungai Petani.

Despite verbal warnings last year to the estate management, he said a surprise check on Sept 9 showed that the problems were still not rectified.
“The management failed to address the problem. We will charge them in court soon,” he said.

Estate manager Zamri Zainal Abidin could be reached for comments.