KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Industrial Relations has received about 31 claims for reinstatement involving former Malindo Air workers, says the Human Resources Minister.
Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said the cases were filed under Section 20 of the Industrial Relations Act 1967 to enable the workers to be reinstated to their former employment.
He said as of Monday (Nov 2), the Department of Industrial Relations had managed to resolve 24 out of the 31 cases through peaceful negotiations, while the remaining seven cases are still under the purview of the Department for negotiation processes.
“The Department foresee more cases will be filed from former Malindo Air workers as the 60-days time period to file the claims under the Act has not ended, as well as the conditional movement control order (MCO) that is still enforced currently,” said Saravanan in reply to Kasthuri Patto (PH-Batu Kawan) during the Minister’s Question Time on Tuesday (Nov 3).
Kasthuri had asked the Ministry to state the assistance that will be given to Malindo Air staff who were retrenched at short notice and the Ministry’s plan to ensure job security for them.
Saravanan said Malindo Air workers who were retrenched can apply for the Job Search Allowance for up to six months under the Employment Insurance Scheme.
He said there are also other forms of benefits such as the reduced income allowance, training fee, training allowance, early re-employment allowance, among others.
“At the same time, Malindo Air workers who have been retrenched can also register with MyFutureJobs portal to help secure employment.
“The Ministry, through Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), has various incentives under the Penjana HRDF that can help Malindo Air staff who may or have lost their jobs.
“Under the ‘Place and Train’ initiative, Malindo Air workers can also be retrained and be placed in other industries,” he said.
To a supplementary question by Kasthuri, who asked on the whereabouts of a RM3mil fund given to Malindo Air to pay its workers, Saravanan said the ministry would be meeting the airline management together with Social Security Organisation (Socso), as well as the Department of Labour on the matter.
“I will look into the issue to ensure these workers are protected as much as possible,” he said.
It was reported that about 2,000 Malindo Air staff were retrenched recently as part of the airline’s latest cost-cutting measure. – THE STAR