The failure to provide written employment contracts was among 13 offences uncovered by the Labour Department during an enforcement operation in Kampung Jerudong on August 27.

The inspection, carried out under Operasi Waspada 166/2025, targeted a local food business producing kueh malaya. Officers found multiple breaches of the Employment Order, Chapter 278, including non-payment of overtime wages, failure to grant rest days, requiring employees to work on rest days and beyond permitted hours, and not providing paid public holiday and annual leave entitlements.

Other offences included failing to grant sick leave certified by medical practitioners, operating at a location not declared to the Labour Department, and employing foreign workers without a valid licence. Investigators also found that two foreign employees were engaged in work not consistent with the positions approved under their licences, including selling food instead of the roles originally registered.

The Labour Department said investigations are ongoing. Employers found guilty of breaching the Employment Order face compound fines of up to BND1,000 for each offence. Failure to settle compounds could result in prosecution in court.

The department reminded employers to comply with the law by ensuring workers are given written contracts, weekly rest days, overtime or compensatory leave if required to work on rest days, regulated working hours, paid leave on gazetted public holidays, certified sick leave, and annual paid leave. Employers were also reminded that they must not hire foreign workers under another company’s sponsorship or assign them to jobs outside their approved roles.

For further information, the public may contact the Labour Department at 2381848 during working hours or 7298989 after hours.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin