The company undertaking the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) revealed that it has laid off staff after the federal government suspended the mega rail project, reported The Edge.
“All affected staff have been compensated fairly and according to prevailing contracts,” said China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd or CCC-ECRL.
It also intends to reduce the salary of its other staff and offered no-pay leaves. Nevertheless, a “considerable” number of local employees were retained to guard construction sites as requested by asset owner Malaysia Rail Link.
“This rationalisation exercise has been carried out in accordance with the employment contracts between the staff and CCC-ECRL, and is also in compliance with all international and Malaysian laws and regulations.”
Although the company didn’t divulge the number of laid off personnel, Channel News Asia had earlier reported that it amounts to 50 percent of its 2,000 employees.
The news website reported that only 30 percent of its total staff are foreign, but most of the fired employees were Malaysians.
Nevertheless, an insider told The Star that most of the affected personnel were unskilled workers who could be re-hired once the suspension is lifted.
“We are hopeful that the suspension of work is only temporary. We wish to continue extending our cooperation and assistance to the Malaysian government and other related authorities during the review of this project. We look forward to the lifting of the work suspension order as soon as possible,” added CCC-ECRL.
Image sourced from NST Online
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