85 China labourers say owed RM950,000 in salaries
Published on: Wednesday, January 23, 2019
By: Sherell Jeffrey
Kota Kinabalu: Misunderstanding over a contract has resulted in 85 China labourers being stranded here since December allegedly due to unpaid dues amounting to RM950,000.
The group led by Guo Peng, 45, from Jiangsu in China, related their ordeal to Daily Express after they were spotted outside the China Consulate office, Tuesday. It is understood that the consulate had been attending to their basic needs pending their return home.
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Guo said they arrived on Sept. 30, last year, to work on a project at Sahabat 7, Felda Sahabat Cenderakasih in Lahad Datu.
They claimed to have worked with a company, CPCI MM Consortium Sdn Bhd in Sahabat 42 and Sahabat 53 over a certain period until Dec. 30 after which it owed them the RM950,000.
CPCI’s alleged failure to pay up prompted Guo to lodge a police report at Cenderawasih Police Station on Jan. 10.
“We just want our money and go back to China to celebrate Chinese New Year with our families,” he said.
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Meanwhile, CPCI when contacted, said they are the main subcontractor for the on-going construction project in Sabah.
“We have engaged a company (Fengyang County Xuri Labor Service Co Ltd) as one of our subcontractors to provide supporting services for the above mentioned project.
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“All our subcontractors are required to be in full compliance with the labour laws and regulations in Malaysia.
“We were not aware of any internal issues between that company and the workers’ employed by them,” said the CPCI spokesperson.
They further said that the internal payment issue between that company and its workers had just been brought to their attention, adding that their payment to that company (Xuri) had been prompt for all the work rendered and claimed by it.
“We have also just been made aware of that company’s workers’ desire to return home for the Chinese New Year.
“We view the concerns raised by that company’s workers seriously. We believe in treating all people with dignity and respect, and expect all our subcontractors with whom we do business to uphold the same standards.
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“We are engaging with that company (Xuri) to ensure that they honour the terms and conditions of the workers’ employment.
“Should these violations are not be corrected, we will discontinue the business relationship,” said the company’s spokesperson. Xuri could not be contacted for comments. - Sherell Jeffrey