Rise In Workplace Covid-19 Infections Demands Stricter Laws (Not Recommendations) And Corrupt-Free Enforcement Workplace Clusters about 30% of all clusters in Malaysia (26 Groups)

 

Media Statement – 31/12/2020

Rise In Workplace Covid-19 Infections Demands Stricter Laws (Not Recommendations) And Corrupt-Free Enforcement

Workplace Clusters about 30% of all clusters in Malaysia

We, the 26 undersigned groups, organisations and trade unions are appalled when it was reported a workplace making glove was merely slapped with a RM1,000 fine for failing to comply with Covid-19 preventive measures and providing seemingly poor living conditions for workers.(Star, 25/12/2020).

RM1,000 is the fine or compound levied on individuals  who breach the law for not wearing face masks and such offences. To fine an employer the same RM1,000, when their failings put so many workers at risk or actually getting infected by Covid-19 is a joke.

It was reported in that case that ‘…there were no records of sanitization and disinfection that were supposed to be carried out at least three times a day. “We also did not see any measures on physical distancing in one of the dorms. There are markings for physical distancing but in reality this did not happen…’ (Star, 25/12/2020)

Workers have no choice but to do as employer demands

A person can comply with the measures needed to avoid infections, but this does not apply to workplaces and worker accommodation, where a worker is compelled to follow the orders or instructions of their employers.

Workplace specific laws/regulations that carry penalties for non-compliance

It is sad that despite calls from many quarters, Malaysia has to date failed to enact laws or specific subsidiary legislations for workplaces in relation to Covid-19, where a non-compliance would be a breach of law, attracting prosecution and if found guilty a sentence. What Malaysia has now is mostly mere Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Guidelines which unfortunately are merely recommendation or advice, where non-compliance by the employer is not an offence punishable by law. A breach of SOPs or Guidelines is not an offence with a stipulated penalty. This may explain why companies wrongdoings in not protecting workers from Covid-19 seem to simply attract reprimands or at most fines RM1,000. Even when fines are imposed, it is not clear what precise law has been violated.

In relation to Covid-19, Malaysia still relies on general law or regulation that applies to everyone, but there are no workplace specific enforceable laws. There is a serious need for legally enforceable workplace laws and/or regulations to prevent workers falling victim to Covid-19 and other communicable diseases, despite the fact the government had the opportunity to do so since March 2020.

OSHA still no clear employer obligations to keep workers safe from Covid-19

The Malaysia’s Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994(OSHA 1994), being the primary law imposing obligations on employers to keep workers safe at the workplace, does include protection from occupational diseases, which now should include Covid-19 and other person to person serious communicable diseases. Sadly, OSHA 1994 still has no definition or any list of occupational diseases that the employer is obligated to protect workers from.

Social Security Act law (SOCSO) has a list of occupational diseases, but the SOCSO law generally deals with rights and compensations once infected, it does not impose employer obligations to keep workers safe at the workplace.

The lack of definition of occupational disease in OSHA could have easily been dealt with by an amendment to include a definition occupational diseases. It could have been simply defined as being the same as provided for in the SOCSO Act, or some other definition or list. Then, employer’s obligation to keep workers safe from such diseases like Covid-19 is made clear, and failure would be a crime punishable by law.

The Minister of Human Resources under OSHA 1994 have the power, without having to get Parliamentary approval, to make specific regulations and/or subsidiary legislations, which could stipulate what employers need to do keep workers safe from even specific diseases like Covid-19. Sadly, the Minister has still not done so.

In comparison, Singapore, since the end March 2020, have the Infectious Diseases (Workplace Measures to Prevent Spread of Covid-19) Regulations 2020. Malaysia should have similar laws. If the Minister of Human Resource fails, then the Minister of Health could also do so.

The failure to have such laws and regulations that will make it a crime may be the reason why workplace employers and/or owners who endanger workers’ lives are getting away with ‘reprimands’ and small fines like RM1,000. Workers and their families are victims because of government failure.

Workplace Clusters about 30% of all clusters in Malaysia

Workplace clusters are about a third of all clusters in Malaysia now (Malay Mail, 29/11/2020). The report also stated that ‘334 Covid-19 clusters detected in Malaysia, more than a third, or 119 clusters are related to infections at workplaces…. the five workplace-linked clusters that have the highest number of cases are the Teratai cluster (4,036 cases), Damanlela Construction Site cluster (1,539), Cergas cluster (1,337), Hentian cluster (1,101) and Kaya cluster (900).

On Wednesday(16/12/2020), eight new clusters were announced, out of which four were related to worksites: Puncak Galaksi cluster involving Kuala Selangor and Klang (56 cases); Permai cluster involving three construction sites in Lembah Pantai  (48 cases); Matahari construction site cluster in Titiwangsa (15 cases); and Laut construction site cluster involving Lembah Pantai, Cheras and Kepong (eight cases).

The number of workplace clusters continues to rise every day, and yet there is still a lack of deterrent laws that would compel employers to better protect workers.

There were opportunities to enact these new laws or make needed amendments when Parliament sat, but the present government failed to do so.

Any employers being charged for causing workers getting infected?

The lack of news of employers who failed to keep their workers safe being charged in court, and recent news of very low fines gives a perception that the Malaysian government is pro-employer, and has little concern for workers’ safety and health. Mere expression of anger by Ministers and politicians, without stricter laws and better enforcement is meaningless.

Recent discoveries of so many workplaces not in compliance with SOPs, Guidelines and even laws demonstrate that these weak laws, advice and recommendations alone is insufficient – we need laws with deterrent  penalties and efficient enforcements.

Without enforcement, laws alone are not enough

Having laws alone is inadequate without strict enforcement by the relevant Ministries and departments. Corruption and influence are perceived to influence enforcement, investigation and prosecution of employers.

Inadequacy of protection of worker whistleblowers, as many workers are afraid to highlight wrongdoings of employers for fear of retaliation and even termination of employment. The recent termination of a worker at Top Glove who highlighted the working and living conditions of workers at the workplace, and the lack of government response only propagates a culture of fear amongst workers – who will continue to work in law-breaking, unsafe and dangerous working and/or living conditions, for fear of discrimination or termination if they highlight these wrongs.

Therefore, we

• Call on Malaysia to enact laws and regulations, where a non-compliance of the employer’s legal obligation will be a crime, with a deterrent sentence. Ineffective recommendations and/or advice through SOPs and Guidelines should be replaced by enforceable subsidiary legislations or laws.
• Call for the imposition of deterrent punishments like prison terms for Employers, Directors and officers responsible for violating laws, including those that impact workers’ safety and health;
• Call for increased workplace inspection and indiscriminate enforcement, especially before workers fall victim to Covid-19;
• Call for prosecution of corrupt law enforcement officers, who by their failings undermine the protection of workers’ rights, safety and health
• Call for laws that protect workers that highlight rights violations at workplaces and worker accommodations, and
•   Call for the protection and promotion of worker rights and human rights

 

Charles Hector

Apolinar Z. Tolentino, Jr.

 

For and on behalf the following 26

ALIRAN

BWI AP (Building and Wood Workers International Asia Pacific Region)

WH4C (Workers Hub For Change)

Building and Wood Workers Federation of Myanmar(BWFM)

China Labour Bulletin (CLB)

Gender Alliance for Development Center, Albania

Federasi Serikat Buruh Kerakyatan(SERBUK) Indonesia

Friends of Croatia

International Black Women for Wages for Housework

Labour Behind the Label, UK

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

NAMM (Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia)

National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM)

National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW)

Odhikar, Bangladesh

Payday men’s network UK/US

People Like Us Support Ourselves (PLUsos)

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor

Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union (STIEU)

Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA)

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

Timber Industry Employees Union of Sarawak (TEIUS)

Timber Employees Union Peninsular Malaysia (TEUPM)

Union of Forestry Employees Sarawak (UFES)

Women of Color Global Women’s Strike

Lin Chew, Independent

   

Prioritize worker rights, safety and health at workplaces when dealing with illegal factories(31 Groups)

 

Media Statement:- 16/9/2020

Prioritize worker rights, safety and health at workplaces when dealing with illegal factories

Charge in court - No compounds for those who commit crimes that cause injury, death or impacts public health

We, the 31 undersigned groups, trade unions, persons and organisations are appalled by the disclosure that there are still today about 2,900 illegal factories in Selangor, and the concern is about worker rights, including occupational safety and health. In September 2019, the State government disclosed that from 2013, there are about 2,885 unlicensed factories, and as of 2018, only 630 have been legalized (Star, 24/9/2019)

It is odd that the government and its many enforcement authorities and its officers were not aware before of these illegal factories, and this fact raises the possibility of corruption, a matter that the anti-corruption authorities must look into.

A worker is entitled to rights, which include employment security and all other rights, including those provided by Malaysian law. Registration and minimum contributions must be made to SOCSO to ensure worker’s social security protection, especially when a worker is infected by an occupational disease, suffers injury, disability and even death. For their old age survival, the law sets the minimum monthly contributions to be made by employer and worker. When a workplace is illegal, the concern is whether workers’ rights are also being denied.

Would an illegal factory even have the needed permits and licenses to do certain work activities, including dangerous and life threatening work? Would the authorities involved in ensuring occupational safety and health of the workplace even know of these illegal establishments, or do the necessary workplace inspections, to ensure that the workplace is safe – hence a low risk of workplace injuries or death.

If a worker working in an ‘illegal’ factory have his worker rights violated, would he/she even have recourse to justice? Would the employer even pay the worker what is owing to them, including back wages, unpaid overtime and other unpaid monies? Would a worker in such a factory even be able to claim reinstatement (or compensation in lieu of reinstatement), when he/she is wrongfully dismissed?

Any illegal factory or workplace, can and ought to have been speedily discovered and action taken in accordance to law.

Most workers who are employed in these ‘illegal’ workplaces, most probably verily believe that they are working in a legal workplace, that is in compliance with all laws governing employment and workplaces.

After all, how could it be illegal, when they get water and electricity from government agencies or agencies linked to government? How can they even operate illegally, without the knowledge of the Local Council (local government), State government or Federal government in Malaysia where the public perception is that the relevant law enforcement authorities are efficient, a perception often reinforced by media reports about numerous crackdowns on law breakers including drunk drivers, drug dependents, undocumented migrants and other suspected criminals.

Hence, how is it even possible for any illegal factory or workplace to exist in Malaysia, especially one that employs many workers. It was shocking to read a report that stated that one of these suspected companies, suspected in polluting our water supply, which resulted in about 5 million people (or 1.2 million consumer accounts)  being denied water supply, was known by the local government concerned and had been operating without a license since 2014.

Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) corporate department director Mohamad Zin Masoad said data also showed that the factory had never applied for a license since it started operating six years ago. “We have issued the latest notice to them in March but they ignored it. Besides operating without a license, we also found that the factory was built without MPS permission,” he said after putting up an illegal structure notice at the factory here today.(Edge Markets, 7/9/2020). Any business operation within any local council area needs to renew their permit/licenses to operate every year, so it is strange that illegal workplaces are not discovered.

Mohamad Zin also said all of the factories were placed in the legalisation process list and were given time until Dec 31, 2020, to submit documentation so that operation permits could be issued to them. “According to the [Selangor] state government’s directive, we cannot demolish the plants under the legalization process (introduced in 2012 and extended until Dec 31, 2020’. (Edge Markets, 7/9/2020).  

Giving an illegal factory/workplace one to 3 months, to become legal is understandable, but allowing them many years until end of 2020 is just unacceptable.

For the benefit of workers, including their employment and income, it may be best that discovered illegal factories best be given the chance to legalize, but at the same time their law breaking acts must not go unpunished.

Prioritize worker rights, safety and health in legalization process

In the legalization process, laws regarding worker rights, safety and health should be prioritized, compared to other issues like land classifications and/or construction approvals.

If this be the current state of affairs, then the government can be held responsible for the deprivation of water supply the people suffered, since they allowed this ‘Illegal’ factory to continue operating, without complying laws including possibly laws concerning workers occupational safety and health.

Law Breaking Companies Must Be Charged in Court, and not offered compounds

For example, according to just the Water Services Industries Act 2006, this company, if they are convicted they will be liable to a sentence of imprisonment up to ten years, a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or to whipping or to all three.

In this case, the Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun in a statement said to date, no investigation paper on the raw water pollution incident in Selangor had been referred to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC). Generally, only after investigation papers are submitted to the AGC, will the prosecution take action and charge the law violators in court.(Edge Markets, 8/9/2020)

However, in this case, the Selangor government agencies, on their own, decided to take administrative action by offering compounds for allegedly 30 different violations. ‘…Selangor Water Management Board (LUAS), Air Selangor, Selangor Department of Environment (DoE), Selayang Municipal Council and the State Environment Committee conducted an investigation. Thirty compounds totalling RM60,000 were issued to Yip Chee Seng & Sons Sdn Bhd..’ the Attorney General Idrus said that the compounds were issued without any reference to investigation papers by the AGC.(Edge Markets, 8/9/2020)

Compounds undermines justice, and protects companies

Issuing compounds is an administrative action, and payment of compounds avoids the possibility of the alleged offenders being charged and tried in court for the same offence.

Companies that commit crimes, that endanger public health, injures or kills workers should never be offered compounds, but should be charged and tried in open court. When charged in court, the accused company and/or its officers can always plead guilty, and the courts will take into account the guilty plea, in determining the just sentence that would be imposed.

If charged in court for a crime, the courts also have the power to even order that the affected victims be compensated in a criminal trial.

Convictions matters unlike compounds. The number of past similar convictions will be an aggravating factor, which will lead the court to impose higher sentences on repeat offenders.

Doubts linger as to whether this alleged particular company is even the real culprit, or just one of the many other culprits who caused the water supply to be contaminated, who have yet to be prosecuted. Note that so many water treatment plants had to be shut down.

The offering of compounds, which could be influenced by other factors including corruption, and, as such, for crimes that puts at risk the lives and health of many and/or causes death and injury to workers must end. Such law breakers must all be charged and tried in open court by an independent judge.

We call on the Minister of Human Resources, including the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, to immediately inspect all these 2,900 illegal factories in Selangor, and others in Malaysia to ensure that all laws concerning worker rights, including occupational safety and health are being complied with. It is a folly to wait until a worker dies or is injured.

Charles Hector

Apolinar Z. Tolentino, Jr.

 

For and on behalf the 31 listed below

Center for Orang Asli Concerns(COAC)

Electronic Industry Employees Union Southern Region Peninsular Malaysia(EIEUSRPM)/Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan, Semenanjung Malaysia (KSIEWSSM)Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor(PSWS)

Jaringan Solidariti Pekerja (JSP)

Kesatuan Pekerja Atlas Edible Ice Sdn. Bhd.

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malaysians in Action For Justice and Unity (MAJU)

National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW) West Malaysia

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

North South Initiative(NSI)

Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union (STIEU)

Sosialis Alternatif (SA)

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

Timber Employees Union Peninsular Malaysia (TEUPM)

Union of Forestry Employees Sarawak (UFES)

WH4C (Workers Hub For Change)

Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) Asia Pacific Region

Bangladesh Group Netherlands

IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh

International Black Women For Wages For Housework

Global Women’s Strike

Labour Behind the Label, United Kingdom

Legal Action for Women, United Kingdom

MARUAH, Singapore

Myanmar Human Rights Alliances Network (MHRAN)

National Garments Workers Federation (NGWF), Bangladesh

Pakistani Christian Refugee Fellowship (PCRF)

Payday Men’s Network (UK/US)

Safety and Rights Society, Bangladesh

Women Of Color Global Women’s Strike

Worker Empowerment, Hong Kong

Dr Ronald McCoy, the founder of Nobel Peace Prize-winning anti-nuclear group International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)

INKUES UNTUK SEMUA KEMATIAN PEKERJA DI TEMPAT KERJA(50 Groups)

 

Terjemahan Kenyataan Media Asal dalam Bahasa Inggeris – 18/8/2020 - kini 50 kumpulan

INKUES UNTUK SEMUA KEMATIAN PEKERJA DI TEMPAT KERJA

Dakwa untuk kesalahan membunuh dan menyebabkan kecederaan, bukan sekadar ketidakpatuhan obligasi keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerjaan

Kami, 49 kumpulan, organisasi dan kesatuan sekerja yang disenaraikan di bawah ini menuntut agar Inques (Penyiasatan kehakiman untuk kematian) dilakukan untuk semua kematian di tempat kerja, untuk memastikan keadilan, dan memastikan bahawa mereka yang bertanggungjawab menyebabkan kematian pekerja juga didakwa dan dibicarakan juga untuk jenayah membunuh. Hanya mengenakan denda untuk kesalahan tidak mematuhi obligasi perundangan keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerjaan, dan tidak ada pendakwaan dan hukuman terhadap mereka yang melakukan jenayah membunuh atau kematian dan/atau kecederaan pekerja tidak memadai dan tidak adil.

INKUES (Penyiasatan kehakiman mengenai kematian), yang dilakukan oleh seorang Koroner Bebas, di Mahkamah terbuka, adalah untuk menentukan bukan sahaja sebab kematian, tetapi yang lebih penting lagi adalah menentukan samada ada terdapat orang yang bertanggungjawab melakukan jenayah membunuh.

Tanggungjawab jenayah akan menentukan juga sama ada majikan, pemilik, kontraktor dan/atau pegawai mereka harus didakwa untuk jenayah bunuh(murder), homisid(homicide) atau jenayah menyebabkan kematian kerana kecuaian, di mana semua ini adalah kini kesalahan jenayah di bawah Kanun Keseksaan Malaysia. Sekiranya risiko kematian diketahui, dan terdapat kegagalan untuk melakukan apa yang diperlukan untuk menjaga keselamatan pekerja, dan ini menyebabkan kematian pekerja, maka ini boleh menjadi jenayah bunuh atau homicid.

Tanggungjawab jenayah  mereka yang bertanggungjawab atas kematian pekerja di tempat kerja

Pada 8 Ogos, Zaid Berahim, 33, terbunuh  di sebuah kilang di Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang (Bernama, 8/8/2020). Pada pertengahan Mac 2020, rakyat Malaysia Azarul Ashraf Nor Akmal Zorkalnain, Che Huzaydy Che Harun, Norfazly Mad Nor, Faidhi Akmal Fadzil dan Hadi Syafiq Jamil dilaporkan terbunuh dalam kemalangan di kilang milik PRefChem, usahasama Petronas dan Saudi Aramco (Star, 17/3/2020).

Sekurang-kurangnya 61 pekerja mati di tempat kerja dari Januari hingga Mac 2020, menurut data Jabatan Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan (JKKP/DOSH), berasaskan bilangan kes yang dilaporkan kepada JKKP. Pada tahun 2017, JKPP(DOSH) telah mencatatkan 711 kematian di tempat kerja (Malay Mail, 9/7/2018), tetapi nampaknya tidak ada sesiapapun yang didakwa atas tuduhan bunuh atau homicid, maupun kesalahan jenayah menyebabkan kematian kerana cuai untuk mana-mana kes kematian di tempat kerja tersebut.

Amalan semasa nampaknya setakat mendenda majikan atau orang lain kerana ketidakpatuhan obligasi tempat kerja dan/atau kewajiban untuk memastikan keselamatan di tempat kerja. Malangnya, kesalahan dalam undang-undang kini menyatakan hukuman yang sama, tanpa mengambilkira sama ada pekerja mati atau cedera akibat kegagalan majikan tersebut, di mana ini nyata dalam banyak perundangan berkenaan tempat kerja termasuk Akta Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan 1994 (OSHA). Secara wajar, apabila kecederaan atau kematian disebabkan akibat pengingkaran undang-undang, harus dikenakan hukuman yang lebih tinggi dan deteren(deterrent).

Nyawa pekerja adalah penting, dan semua kematian ini mesti disiasat secara komprehensif bukan sekadar melihat sama ada terdapat pengingkaran undang-undang pelesenan/permit dan/atau kepatuhan kewajiban keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerjaan sahaja, tetapi juga sama ada sesiapa ada tanggungjawab jenayah yang menyebabkan kematian dan/atau kecederaan pekerja tersebut.

Kematian pekerja di tempat kerja boleh juga merupakan pembunuhan(Murder) atau ‘homicide’.

Perundangan Malaysia kini menyatakan bahawa jika seseorang ada ‘… pengetahuan bahawa dia mungkin melalui tindakan [atau kegagalan] menyebabkan kematian…’, seseorang itu melakukan jenayah culpable homicide(pembunuhan homisid). (Seksyen 299 Kanun Keseksaan)[ ‘…knowledge that he is likely by such act[or omission] to cause death…’, a person commits the offence of culpable homicide.(Section 299 Penal Code)]

Akan menjadi jenayah bunuh yang lebih serius, iaitu murder(bunuh) 'jika orang yang melakukan sesuatu(atau gagal melakukan sesuatu) dengan pengetahuan bahawa ianya sangat berbahaya berkemungkinan boleh menyebabkan kematian, atau kecederaan tubuh yang mungkin menyebabkan kematian, dan melakukan tindakan tersebut tanpa apa-apa alasan mengambil risiko yang boleh  menyebabkan kematian, atau kecederaan seperti yang dinyatakan di atas. '(Seksyen 300 (d) Kanun Keseksaan).[ It would be the more serious crime of murder ‘if the person committing the act knows that it is so imminently dangerous that it must in all probability cause death, or such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, and commits such act without any excuse for incurring the risk of causing death, or such injury as aforesaid.’(Section 300(d) of the Penal Code).

Hakikat bahawa seseorang tidak tahu bahawa seseorang tertentu akan dibunuh akibat tindakan/kegagalannya tidak relevan dalam definisi bunuh(murder) ini.

Kes Kemalangan Maut Temerloh mungkin kes Bunuh(Murder) - Kematian yang boleh diramalkan dan dapat dicegah?

Di Temerloh, pada awal Mac 2020, Md Shoriful, 43, dan Julhas Rahman, 27, meninggal dunia kerana dikebumikan hidup-hidup di parit/trench ketika bekerja di tapak pembinaan perumahan. Ini boleh diklasifikasi sebagai kes bunuh(murder).

Standard(Piawaaian) Industri Binaan oleh Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan Malaysia (CIDB) CIS 25: 2018, sebagai contoh, mengkategorikan jenis kerja sedemikian sebagai kerja berisiko TINGGI, dengan risiko kematian akibat  dikebumikan hidup-hidup. Oleh yang demikian, ia merupakan jenis kerja 'tersangat bahaya' yang diketahui, yang boleh menyebabkan kematian, dan mana-mana kontraktor atau syarikat yang terlibat dalam kerja pembinaan harus secara wajar mengetahui risiko ini.

Untuk mengelakkan kematian berisiko tinggi ini, ada kewajiban/obligasi undang-undang yang jelas. Sebagai contoh, untuk kerja dalam parit/lubang, CIDB memerlukan shoring(penahan tanah jatuh kembali mengkebumikan pekerja) yang betul, di mana reka bentuk penahan juga mesti diluluskan oleh Jurutera Profesional (PE) dan diperiksa secara berkala. Tanah yang digali juga harus ditempatkan pada jarak tertentu dari tepi lubang/parit, di luar 'zon pengaruh'. Secara munasabah, mesin yang menyebabkan getaran yang boleh menyebabkan tanah yang berlonggok di tepi parit/lubang jatuh kembali menguburkan pekerja hidup-hidup. Justeru, demi keselamatan, tidak boleh beroperasi  berdekatan ketika pekerja sedang bekerja di dalam parit sedemikian.

Lapuran Media mengenai kejadian Temerloh, antara lain, mengatakan, 'Kedua-dua mangsa dan pekerja ketiga dipercayai berada di dalam lubang sedalam enam meter, sementara dua mesin menggali tanah di tanah di atas lubang beroperasi. "Longgokkan tanah di pinggir lubang kemudian mula jatuh semasa kerja-kerja penggalian, menguburkan kedua pekerja itu," kata Ketua Polis Daerah Temerloh Asisten Komisioner Mohd Yusri Othman. "(New Straits Times, 6/3/2020)[‘Both victims and the third worker are believed to have been inside a six metre-deep pit, while two machines were excavating earth on the ground above the pit. “Heaps of soil which had collected at the edge of the pit then began falling during the excavation works, burying the two workers,” said Temerloh district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Yusri Othman.’(New Straits Times, 6/3/2020)]

Dari fakta yang diketahui, keperluan perundangan untuk insiden ini diklasifikasikan sebagai kes bunuh(murder) atau pembunuhan homisid, tercapai. Namun, tidak ada berita selanjutnya yang menyatakan sama ada polis  menjalankan siasatan kes bunuh atau tidak.

Inkues mencegah 'penyembunyian(cover-up)' dan kegagalan - kes Muhammad Adib

Sekalipun pihak berkuasa penegak undang-undang gagal bertindak, pendapatan INKUES pasti dapat mencegah kemungkinan berlakunya 'penyembunyian'(cover-up), amalan rasuah dan apa-apa kegagalan lain. Ini akan memastikan siasatan dan kemungkinan pendakwaan mereka yang bertanggungjawab melakukan jenayah bunuh.

Ini telah berlaku di Malaysia dalam kes kematian seorang anggota bomba yang meninggal dunia pada November 2018, semasa menjalankan kerjanya. "Kematian anggota bomba Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim adalah hasil daripada tindakan jenayah lebih dari dua orang, satu inkues memutuskan sembilan bulan setelah kematiannya." (New Straits Times, 27/9/2019). . [‘The death of fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim was a result of a criminal act by more than two people, an inquest ruled nine months after his death.’(New Straits Times, 27/9/2019).]

Pendapatan inkues ini telah berjaya menghasilkan siasatan polis lebih lanjut, dan baru-baru ini polis Malaysia mendedahkan rancangan tambahan untuk menubuhkan pasukan peninjau untuk menyelidiki semua aspek mengenai kematian tersebut. (Malay Mail, 10/7/2020). Masih banyak tekanan masyarakat umum untuk mendakwa mereka yang bertanggungjawab secara jenayah untuk kematian Adib.

Inkues mengatasi kekurangan undang-undang dan amalan

Inkues oleh Koroner bebas, adalah hak yang diakui di Malaysia untuk semua kematian, dan ianya  BUKAN hanya harus dilakukan untuk mangsa yang mati akibat ditikam, ditembak dan/atau dipukul, tetapi untuk semua orang yang mati termasuk pekerja yang terbunuh di tempat kerja.

Koroner, sebagai pegawai kehakiman biasanya seorang Majistret, adalah orang yang bebas dari pelbagai agensi penguatkuasaan undang-undang, dapat dan akan melakukan penentuan yang akan dapat mengatasi apa-apa kegagalan dan/atau kesilapan pihak yang bertanggungjawab untuk penguatkuasaan undang-undang.

Dalam kematian di tempat kerja, yang kini di bawah banyak undang-undang dan agensi yang berlainan, di mana kebanyakan agensi berkenaan mungkin hanya bertindak berasaskan undang-undang tertentu yang menjadi tanggungjawab mereka. Inkues akan dapat melihat dan menilai setiap aspek termasuk undang-undang dan kewajiban undang-undang, termasuk juga Kanun Keseksaan, dalam penentuan tanggungjawab jenayah mereka mereka yang menyebabkan kematian.

Kami mengulangi bahawa orang yang bertanggungjawab atas kematian di tempat kerja boleh didakwa dan diadili untuk jenayah bunuh(murder) atau pembunuhan homisid, hanya kerana kegagalan melakukan perkara yang diperlukan, untuk mengurangkan risiko atau mencegah kematian, di mana kegagalan mereka tersebut menyebabkan kematian tersebut.

INKUES untuk semua Kematian diperuntukan dalam Perundangan

Kanun Acara Malaysia (KAJ/CPC) dengan jelas memperuntukkan bahawa Majistret harus mengadakan INKUES(siasatan kehakiman untuk  kematian) untuk semua kematian, di mana semasa inkues tersebut, Koroner (biasanya Majistret atau Hakim) akan menentukan bila, di mana, bagaimana kematian itu berlaku, dan juga sama ada sesiapa mempunyai tanggungjawab jenayah untuk sebab kematian tersebut (Seksyen 333 dan 337 KAJ/CPC).[… also whether any person is criminally concerned in the cause of the death.(Section 333 and 337 CPC).]

INKUES terbuka kepada umum, diman mana-mana pihak yang berminat (dan/atau peguam mereka), termasuk kesatuan sekerja, boleh mengambil bahagian dalam inkues tersebut, dengan kemampuan juga  memanggil dan memeriksa saksi, dan memberikan bukti tambahan untuk membantu Koroner bebas membuat penentuan penyebab kematian, yang juga merangkumi sama ada mana-mana orang (termasuk syarikat dan pegawai mereka) boleh dipertanggungjawabkan melakukan jenayah menyebabkan kematian tersebut – pembunuhan(murder), membunuhan secara salah(Homicid) atau jenayah menyebabkan kematian kerana kecuaian.

Inkues kematian di tempat kerja mengambilkira semua perundangan dan fakta yang relevan

Untuk Inkues kematian di tempat kerja, Koroner perlu mempertimbangkan semua kewajiban dan obligasi undang-undang majikan, pemilik dan mereka yang mengawal tempat kerja yang berkenaan. Di Malaysia, terdapat kewajiban perundangan jelas, antara lain, syarat berkenaan permit/lesen, kelayakan pekerja dan bahkan standard(piawaian) bahan/peralatan yang harus digunakan. Kegagalan untuk mendapatkan permit relevan, misalnya, untuk penyimpanan bahan berbahaya, boleh mengakibatkan agensi penguatkuasaan yang relevan tidak tahu, justeru gagal memeriksa dan memastikan pematuhan yang sewajarnya.

Pada tahun 2018, kita melihat kes di mana majikan atau pemilik kilang tidak mempunyai permit perlu untuk menyimpan bahan berbahaya, yang mengakibatkan keracunan ammonia yang menyebabkan 2 pekerja mati dan mencederakan 18 yang lain (Sun Daily, 13/8/2018). Kes ini pun mungkin boleh diklasifikasikan sebagai kes bunuh(murder) atau pembunuhan(homisid).

Koroner harus mempertimbangkan sama ada ini ini risiko diketahui, dan sama ada majikan, pemilik dan/atau kontraktor telah melakukan semua yang diperlukan oleh undang-undang untuk mencegah kematian, terutama bagi kerja risiko yang diketahui dan dapat dicegah. Kegagalan boleh mengakibatkan kesalahan jenayah pembunuhan(murder), pembunuhan homisid atau  sekurang-kurangnya jenayah menyebabkan kematian kerana kecuaian/kelalaian.

Untuk kemalangan maut di tapak pembinaan, agensi berkaitan yang seharusnya membantu Koroner semasa Inkues termasuk juga Jabatan Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan (JKKP), Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan (CIDB), Kerajaan Tempatan, semua pihak berkuasa yang memberikan kelulusan dan entiti lain yang berkaitan.

Melindungi Nyawa Pekerja Mesti Menjadi Keutamaan Kerajaan

Perundangan dan polisi Malaysia perlukan reformasi, dengan objektif memastikan tempat kerja yang selamat, dan mencegah kematian dan kecederaan pekerja.

Di bawah Akta Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan 1994, masih belum ada kewajiban undang-undang yang jelas untuk menjaga keselamatan pekerja dari Covid-19 atau penyakit pekerjaan lain. Masih belum ada peraturan khusus di tempat kerja, yang dibuat berasaskan kuasa sedia ada dalam Akta ini yang merupakan perundangan utama berkenaaan keselamatan dan kesihatan di tempat kerja, yang meletakan kewajiban perundangan jelas untuk majikan dan/atau pemilik tempat kerja untuk menjaga keselamatan pekerja, termasuk juga Covid-19, di mana apa-apa pengingkaran akan terus menjadi kesalahan dengan hukuman yang jelas. Kini hanya terdapat peraturan berkuasa undang-undang yang diumum yang dikeluarkan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan.

Malaysia juga tidak mempunyai kesalahan pembunuhan industry (industrial manslaughter), yang berkaitan dengan kematian di tempat kerja. Sebagai contoh, di Queensland, Australia, pembunuhan industry(industrial manslaughter) dilakukan apabila seseorang yang menjalankan perniagaan atau usaha (PCBU), atau pegawai mereka, secara tidak sengaja menyebabkan kematian pekerja, di mana hukuman maksimum adalah 20 tahun penjara bagi seseorang individu, atau $10 juta untuk syarikat atau entiti lain.

Maka, kami menuntut

-          Agar Inkues awam (Siasatan kehakiman untuk kematian) dilakukan untuk semua kematian pekerja di tempat kerja oleh Koroner;

-          Bahawa Inkues segera dilakukan untuk kematian Md Shoriful (43) dan Julhas Rahman (27), yang mati setelah dikebumikan hidup-hidup semasa bekerja di parit dalam untuk menentukan juga sama ada mana-mana syarikat atau orang harus didakwa atas tuduhan membunuh(murder) atau homisid;

-          Bahawa kerajaan  membuat undang-undang yang memberikan hukuman yang lebih tinggi, jika akibat ketidakpatuhan undang-undang, kecederaan atau kematian pekerja berlaku; dan

-          Bahwa kerajaan mengutamakan keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerja, dan membuat reformasi perlu perundangan, polisi dan amalan penguatkuasaan.

 

Charles Hector

Apolinar Tolentino

 

Bagi pihak 49 kumpulan dan kesatuan sekerja yang disenaraikan di bawah ini

 

ALIRAN

Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) Asia Pacific Region

Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) South East Asia Coalition

UNI Global Union- Asia and Pacific Regional Organisation (UNI APRO)

WH4C (Workers Hub For Change)

SUARAM

AMMPO-SENTRO- Association of Filipino Nationalist Workers in Malaysia

Bangladesh Group Netherlands

Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), India 

Cement Industry Employees Union (CIEU)

Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL), Cambodia

Electronic Industry Employees Union Southern Region Peninsular Malaysia(EIEUSRPM)/Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan, Semenanjung Malaysia (KSIEWSSM)

IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh

International Black Women for Wages for Housework

Jaringan Solidariti Pekerja (JSP)

Kesatuan Pekerja Atlas Edible Ice Sdn. Bhd.

Labour Behind the Label(LBL), United Kingdom

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malay Forest Officers' Union (MFOU)

MARUAH, Singapore

Marvi Rural Development Organization (MRDO), Pakistan

Migrant Care

NAMM (Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia)

National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM)

National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW) West Malaysia

North South Initiative(NSI)

Odhikar, Bangladesh

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

Payday Men's Network, UK

Payday Men's Network, US

Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign

Persatuan Komuniti Prihatin Selangor & KL (PRIHATIN)

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)

Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)

PKNS Employees Union

Programme Against Custodial Torture and Impunity (PACTI), India

Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union (STIEU)

Safety and Rights Society (SRS), Bangladesh

SAVE (Social Awareness and Voluntary Education), India

Singapore Anti Death Penalty Campaign

Sosialis Alternatif (SA)

Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights- Jordan

Tenaganita

Timber Employees' Union Peninsular Malaysia (TEUPM)

Timber Industry Employees' Union of Sarawak (TIEUS)

Union of Employees in Construction Industry (UECI)

Union of Forest Department Employees Sarawak (UFES)

Women of Color/Global Women’s Strike

Workers Assistance Center, Inc. Philippines

# Selepas kenyataan dikeluarkan kali pertama, ada tambahan 1menjadikan kini 50 kumpulan

 Association Of Home And Maquila Workers (ATRAHDOM), Guatemala

Original Statement in English -

INQUESTS FOR ALL DEATHS OF WORKERS AT WORKPLACE - Prosecute for offences of killing and causing injury, not merely non-compliance of occupational safety and health requirements