What is happening in Kulai is related to what happened in the Tebrau factory, which now allegedly is a JCY HDD Technology Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of JCY International Bhd. This belief on the name of the factory involved comes from media reports.
{Now, is JCY the employer? We are not sure....because today many factory owner-operators try to avoid employment relationships with the workers who work in the factory - one way is to get workers from 3rd parties(known as contractors for labour) who supply the factory with workers who will be considered employees of the supplying third party - not the employees of the factory. A move to avoid unionization and collective agreements. A way to avoid responsibility and obligations for the promotion and protection of worker rights, avoid responsibility for violations, etc ... There are other methods also used to avoid responsibility to workers...That is why we need to campaign for DIRECT EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP with all the workers that work at your factory...}
The protests and action by workers allegedly started with the death of a Nepali migrant workers, which the workers say the employers were allegedly negligent in not sending the deceased worker for medical treatment. Interestingly, a similar issue happened in 2010, and after worker protest, the situation was resolved vide an agreement by JCY... it was considered a 'Good Practice'....but
The foreigners had, on Sunday, protested against the management of a factory, following the death of a Nepali worker.On Monday, they demanded higher wages from the management and a mini-clinic to be built in the compound.- Star, 16/8/2010, Foreign workers run riot at factory enclave
Press Release - 17/8/2010
In response to the recent foreign workers issues at JCY HDD Technology Sdn. Bhd.’s sub-contractor hostels at Kawasan Perindustrian Tebrau IV, Johor Bahru, both the company and the foreign worker representatives have met this afternoon and the issues had been resolved amicably with the workers returning to work immediately.
Among the key issues highlighted by the foreign workers, the management had in conjunction with the sub-contactor for the hostel, shall take remedial actions as summarized below:
1. Company will provide a vehicle and driver on 24 hour standby at the main hostel to facilitate the emergency transportation of worker to hospital for any emergency treatments.
2. The company had agreed to revise and standardize the pay structure of the workers.
3. The criteria for the deduction of salary in relations to worker coming to factory late shall be revised and improved.
4. On top of the normal workmen compensation benefits, the company had agreed to improve the contribution to the beneficiary of the worker.
The management of the company stressed that JCY had always aim to provide a conducive environment for the workers to work and stay. The company will continue to work closely with the hostel’s sub-contractor to take care of the workers welfare and JCY truly valued the contribution made by the workers and staffs to the success of the company. - JCY International Website
The question arises whether JCY is still complying with the agreement for once again there is a death of a worker and allegations of failure on the part of the factory .See -1500 Migrant Workers Strike for 36 Hours Following Death of Migrant Worker
Allegedly, some 20 factory workers involved in the earlier protest in Tebrau were transferred to to the Kulai factory - and there have been allegations of torture -
Now, my hope is that the authorities do not just take criminal and other actions on these workers - but will investigate the ROOT CAUSE - which from the media reports point the finger to the employer, management, supervisor, third part contractors, etc...A manager had allegedly forced a group of foreign workers to play "volleyball with stones" and those who refused were beaten with a stick.... the company abused the workers, mostly Nepalese, on daily basis and they could not take it anymore. "When we make mistakes, they hit us and this is just unfair."In fact, due to an earlier disagreement, the management even refused to send us our usual bus and we were forced to walk for about 1 hour to get to work... - - Malaysiakini, 26/8/2014, Workers torch car in 'stone volleyball' riot
It would also be best that JCY International immediately steps in and resolve this issue as was done in 2010 - for at the end of the day, this really is a labour issue.
Now, when a large group of workers/people are protesting and claiming rights, there is likely to be some 'bad apples' that may go overboard, and as such the workers in general should not be blamed for the acts of a few. Were the ones who did the 'violence' workers? Were they some 'agent provocateur', some outside trouble maker, some employer's agent, some....?
The police, if they are going to take action, must focus their action on the identified few who damaged the car, committed arson, etc - and not take this opportunity to target worker leaders and the workers generally. Likewise, action should also be taken against management, staff or the employer for the 'torture'. We have heard of workers being arrested, but no employer's representatives - why is that?
the violence was sparked when the workers were made to play volleyball using a rock as the ball. Mohanadas [Malaysian Trade Union Congress Johor secretary K Mohanadas] said that workers told him this was punishment for some 20 workers transferred from Tebrau to Kulaijaya."The workers also say that the supervisor threw a stone at one of their private parts, sparking the violence,” he said. -- Malaysiakini, 27/8/2014,Factory torched as Kulai riot escalates
If you ' threw a stone at one of their private parts' , I am sure that most people will react. Has the supervisor who allegedly threw the stone at the
private parts of the worker been investigated or arrested? Has the
manager or the staff who initiated the torture been arrested?
Factory torched as Kulai riot escalates
Violence at a Kulai factory escalated last night
with a portion of the factory was torched, after discussions between
worker and factory management fell through.
According to police, 44 workers, mostly of Nepalese origin were detained following two incidents of rioting, the first of which occurred at 10am resulting in a torched car.
Workers
allegedly set ablaze the factory store and damaged three other
buildings owned by the public-listed electronics company JCY
International Bhd by throwing stones at the buildings at about 8pm.
The fire was put out by the fire department at 10.05 pm. No injuries were reported.
According to Kulaijaya Deputy District Police Chief DSP Mohd Idris Samsuri, among the rioters, 13 were arrested last night while the rest were arrested after the earlier incident.
They were arrested under Section 148 of the Penal Code, which deals with possession of missiles at a riot.
“Currently the workers are being remanded and actions to be taken are being discussed with the (Nepalese) embassy.”
Mohd Idris said the police have also arranged a meeting between representative of the detained workers and the company management, with embassy personnel present to act as mediator and translator.
He said that the second rioting incident sparked at about 4pm when a meeting between workers and management “went out of hand”
He said that the management had only agreed to give workers a day off from work, and not accede to other demands.
'Beaten if mistakes made at work'
According to Malaysian Trade Union Congress Johor secretary K Mohanadas, the workers had complained of lack of access to medical services and poor living and work conditions.
“The workers were dissatisfied as the highlighted grievances were not addressed.
“These
include failure to get medical attention, resulting in death in the
Tebrau factory (belonging to the same company), poor living conditions,
no overtime and alleged beating if they make mistakes at work.
“The hostel condition is really bad with up to 35 people in a shophouse,” he said when contacted.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that the violence was sparked when the workers were made to play volleyball using a rock as the ball.
Mohanadas said that workers told him this was punishment for some 20 workers transferred from Tebrau to Kulaijaya.
"The workers also say that the supervisor threw a stone at one of their private parts, sparking the violence,” he said.
Asked of claims of abuse, police chief Mohd Idris said that he has no information on this and directed Malaysiakini to the company.
When contacted, the company said it is closed for the day and cannot entertain media queries.
It, however, acknowleged the "unrest" in a filing with Bursa Malaysia.
Mohanadas said the company also told MTUC that it is too busy to speak to union representatives today.
He added that MTUC has also informed the Bar Council, who is sending a team of lawyers to assist the workers.
According to police, 44 workers, mostly of Nepalese origin were detained following two incidents of rioting, the first of which occurred at 10am resulting in a torched car.
Workers
allegedly set ablaze the factory store and damaged three other
buildings owned by the public-listed electronics company JCY
International Bhd by throwing stones at the buildings at about 8pm.The fire was put out by the fire department at 10.05 pm. No injuries were reported.
According to Kulaijaya Deputy District Police Chief DSP Mohd Idris Samsuri, among the rioters, 13 were arrested last night while the rest were arrested after the earlier incident.
They were arrested under Section 148 of the Penal Code, which deals with possession of missiles at a riot.
“Currently the workers are being remanded and actions to be taken are being discussed with the (Nepalese) embassy.”
Mohd Idris said the police have also arranged a meeting between representative of the detained workers and the company management, with embassy personnel present to act as mediator and translator.
He said that the second rioting incident sparked at about 4pm when a meeting between workers and management “went out of hand”
He said that the management had only agreed to give workers a day off from work, and not accede to other demands.
'Beaten if mistakes made at work'
According to Malaysian Trade Union Congress Johor secretary K Mohanadas, the workers had complained of lack of access to medical services and poor living and work conditions.
“The workers were dissatisfied as the highlighted grievances were not addressed.
“These
include failure to get medical attention, resulting in death in the
Tebrau factory (belonging to the same company), poor living conditions,
no overtime and alleged beating if they make mistakes at work.“The hostel condition is really bad with up to 35 people in a shophouse,” he said when contacted.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that the violence was sparked when the workers were made to play volleyball using a rock as the ball.
Mohanadas said that workers told him this was punishment for some 20 workers transferred from Tebrau to Kulaijaya.
"The workers also say that the supervisor threw a stone at one of their private parts, sparking the violence,” he said.
Asked of claims of abuse, police chief Mohd Idris said that he has no information on this and directed Malaysiakini to the company.When contacted, the company said it is closed for the day and cannot entertain media queries.
It, however, acknowleged the "unrest" in a filing with Bursa Malaysia.
Mohanadas said the company also told MTUC that it is too busy to speak to union representatives today.
He added that MTUC has also informed the Bar Council, who is sending a team of lawyers to assist the workers.
KAMLES KUMAR is a trainee journalist with Malaysiakini.- Malaysiakini, 27/8/2014,Factory torched as Kulai riot escalates
Updated:
Wednesday August 27, 2014 MYT 9:26:40 AM
Striking workers in Kulaijaya torch factory building
JCY HDD Technology Sdn Bhd building burning.
KULAIJAYA: Some 800 workers of a
factory here set fire to the building Tuesday night after they had
stoned their employers office and burned down a car earlier in the day.
The workers, mostly from Nepal, set the electronics manufacturing plant in the Kelapa Sawit Industrial Area on fire around 8pm.
The Fire and Rescue Department arrived at the scene to control the
fire at 8.38pm after receiving a distress call some 13 minutes before
that.
The department managed to put out the fire at around 10.05pm.
JCY HDD Technology Sdn Bhd building burning
This was following a strike staged by the workers due to alleged mistreatment by their employers.
It was reported that they started gathering outside the JCY HDD
Technology Sdn Bhd building from 8am on Tuesday and things got out of
hand when some of them began to hurl stones and other objects at the
management office and set fire to one of the employers’ cars.
The angry crowd also damaged three other blocks owned by the company.
Just last Thursday at the company’s branch at the Tebrau IV
Industrial Area, near Johor Baru, some 1,500 workers also showed their
dissatisfaction over the company’s alleged negligence in handling the
health issue of a worker, leading to his death.
They threw pieces of metal and glass, electronic items, chairs and
boots from their four-storey hostel, smashing the glass windows of a
guard post.- Star, 27/8/2014, Striking workers in Kulaijaya torch factory building
...Meanwhile, 42 Nepalese workers were arrested following a riot by more than 800 workers at an electronics manufacturing factory in the Kelapa Sawit industrial area in Kulaijaya.
Kulaijaya deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Mohad Idris Samsuri said the workers were picked up after they set fire to the JCY HDD Technology Sdn Bhd's building along Jalan Gangsa around 8pm on Tuesday.
He said some 1,000 foreign workers had assembled at the area in the morning. While some dispersed when police arrived, the others remained to take part in the riot until evening.
The riot came in the wake of an incident at another JCY branch at the Tebrau IV industrial area near Johor Baru last Thursday.
There, some 1,500 workers, apparently unhappy over the company's handling of a worker's welfare, threw pieces of metal and other items from their four-storey hostel, besides overturning a parked van.
"Some 60 per cent of those who gathered there were Nepalese nationals and 42 were arrested because they refused to disperse. Instead, they turned violent," said DSP Mohd Idris on the Kulaijaya riot.
Plant general manager, who wanted to be known as Liaw, confirmed that the plant was not operating yesterday due to Tuesday's incident.
A statement released by JCY International Bhd yesterday said JCY HDD Technology, its wholly owned subsidiary, would be temporarily shut.
It added that the company was taking measures to reach an amicable settlement with the workers. - AsiaOne Malaysia, 28//8/2014, Unpaid workers burn eatery in Malaysia
Published:
Wednesday August 27, 2014 MYT 1:56:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday August 27, 2014 MYT 1:58:14 PM
Updated: Wednesday August 27, 2014 MYT 1:58:14 PM
JCY assessing impact of worker unrest, fire at Johor plant
KUALA LUMPUR: Hard disk drive
manufacturer JCY International Bhd is assessing the impact of the worker
unrest and fire at one of its factories in Kulaijaya, Johor.
It said on Wednesday the incident at its unit JCY HDD Technology Sdn Bhd the previous day had caused a temporary shutdown of the factory's operation at that location.
"However, there were no major damages to the factories and properties of the company and its subsidiaries," it said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia.
JCY said the damages to the factories and properties did not pose any material impact on the financial performance and financial position of the group for the financial year ending Sept 30, 2014.
"There are no disruptions to all other operations of the group located outside Kulaijaya District," it added.
JCY said the company was "taking active steps and measures" to address the matter and to reach an amicable settlement with the workers. - Star, 27/8/2014, JCY assessing impact of worker unrest, fire at Johor plant
It said on Wednesday the incident at its unit JCY HDD Technology Sdn Bhd the previous day had caused a temporary shutdown of the factory's operation at that location.
"However, there were no major damages to the factories and properties of the company and its subsidiaries," it said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia.
JCY said the damages to the factories and properties did not pose any material impact on the financial performance and financial position of the group for the financial year ending Sept 30, 2014.
"There are no disruptions to all other operations of the group located outside Kulaijaya District," it added.
JCY said the company was "taking active steps and measures" to address the matter and to reach an amicable settlement with the workers. - Star, 27/8/2014, JCY assessing impact of worker unrest, fire at Johor plant
Malaysian
police arrested 42 foreigners after nearly 1,000 workers rioted at an
electronics goods factory Tuesday. The workers, mostly Nepalese
nationals, were protesting poor working conditions, an endemic issue at
plants employing foreign workers in the Southeast Asian country.
The rioting sparked fires and destroyed components inside the factory, which is located in the southern industrial hub of Johor state. The factory was run by JCY International, a Malaysian company that manufactures parts for electronics giants such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KRX:005935), Hitachi Ltd (TYO:6501) and Western Digital Corp (NASDAQ:WDC).
The workers in the factory had accused JCY of neglecting working conditions at the facility following the death of an employee last week after complaining of chest pain, Reuters reported, citing local news reports.
The Johor factory reportedly suspended operations on Wednesday.
“This was caused by a misunderstanding between the employer and employees over the terms of their work,” Mohad Idris Samsuri, the district's deputy police chief, told Reuters, adding that the arrested men would be charged under the country's anti-rioting law.
Meanwhile, JCY issued a statement to investors, saying that the conflict would not impact the company’s business.
“The company is currently taking active steps and measures to address the above matter and to reach an amicable settlement with the workers,” JCY reportedly said in the statement.- International Business Times, 27/8/2014
The rioting sparked fires and destroyed components inside the factory, which is located in the southern industrial hub of Johor state. The factory was run by JCY International, a Malaysian company that manufactures parts for electronics giants such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KRX:005935), Hitachi Ltd (TYO:6501) and Western Digital Corp (NASDAQ:WDC).
The workers in the factory had accused JCY of neglecting working conditions at the facility following the death of an employee last week after complaining of chest pain, Reuters reported, citing local news reports.
The Johor factory reportedly suspended operations on Wednesday.
“This was caused by a misunderstanding between the employer and employees over the terms of their work,” Mohad Idris Samsuri, the district's deputy police chief, told Reuters, adding that the arrested men would be charged under the country's anti-rioting law.
Meanwhile, JCY issued a statement to investors, saying that the conflict would not impact the company’s business.
“The company is currently taking active steps and measures to address the above matter and to reach an amicable settlement with the workers,” JCY reportedly said in the statement.- International Business Times, 27/8/2014
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian police have arrested 44 men after a riot by up to 1,000 mostly Nepalese workers sparked fires and destroyed parts of an electronics export factory, highlighting accusations of poor conditions for many of the estimated four million foreign workers in the South-east Asian country.
The riot broke out in Johor on Tuesday at a factory run by JCY International, a Malaysian company that makes parts for electronic giants including Samsung, Hitachi and Western Digital. During the incident, the workers also stoned the office section of the factory and burned a car.
Workers had accused the company of negligence following the death last Thursday of an employee at a nearby JCY factory who had complained of chest pains, according to local news reports.
The unrest spilled over to the company's other factory in Kulaijaya, police said, culminating in a stand-off between riot police and protesters - Straits Times, 28/8/2014 - See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/the-big-story/asia-report/malaysia/story/riot-breaks-out-johor-factory-44-men-arrested-20140828#sthash.RFkBscVW.dpuf
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