THE Ministry of Human Resources, through the Peninsular Malaysia Labour Department, has issued compound notices amounting to RM1.2 million to factory operators and employers for flouting the movement-control order (MCO) standard operating procedures (SOP) from June 1 until yesterday.

Minister M. Saravanan said 1,175 SOP-compliance checks have been conducted as the department is given the power to act against errant employers.

“Among the offences often committed by the employers is not complying with the work-from-home directive by allowing more than 60% of their staff in the workplace,” he told reporters after leading a compliance-check operation in Puchong, Selangor today.

He said there were also employers who were found to have falsified information on the permit application letter to operate during the MCO period.

He said factories found to have committed such an offence will be ordered to be closed with immediate effect.

Saravanan also reminded employers to always adhere to the SOP set by the government as the department will continue to conduct inspections on their premises in an effort to curb Covid-19 infection at the workplace.

He said the government will not hesitate to revoke the operation approval of these factories if the SOP violations continued. – Bernama, June 25, 2021.