Metro

Thursday July 12, 2012

Empty promises


Frustrated: Wooi (left) and Lim holding the police report lodged against Wong at the Penang MCA headquarters.

ASSUMING that he would be reimbursed for forking out RM1,600 to pay the wages of the five promoters he managed, a former promotions supervisor was left disappointed when his ‘em- ployer’ refused to pay him back.

The victim, who wanted to be named only as Wooi, said that the man, known as Sunny Wong had promised to return the money and also his unpaid wages of RM400 in three months’ time.

He said the amount included his own wages of RM400 for a week’s work at a supermarket in Penang.

“However, he made that promise in mid-January when I was working for him for a week during the Chinese New Year festive season at the supermarket,” said Wooi.

Although Wooi had called and texted him many times since April to collect the reimbursement, he claimed that Wong had refused to reply at all.

“Therefore, based on the advice of the Penang MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau deputy chief Lim Thoon Deong, I lodged a police report against Wong on July 10,” Wooi told a press conference at the state MCA headquarters yesterday.

Meanwhile, Lim said that he had contacted Wong himself who said he was unemployed and that he had no means to pay Wooi.

“It turned out that he was also involved as a middleman in the case where about 50 private college students were not paid their wages after working part-time at local super-markets.

“The case, which was widely reported in the media in mid-April had apparently caused Wong to lose his job,” said Lim, adding that he contacted Wong’s employers and they had confirmed he had been terminated.

However, Lim urged Wong to settle his debt with the 26-year-old Wooi as he had violated rules under the Employment Act 1955 because he did not prepare a written agreement with the employee prior to the employment.

“If he does not resolve the matter within three days, then Wooi will be taking the matter to the Labour Office with Wong facing legal action,” said Lim.

He also advised the public, especially college students, to be wary of middlemen who may promise attractive wages for part-time work but fail to live up to their end of the deal.

“Make sure that a written agreement is prepared before committing yourself to any part-time jobs available,” said Lim.

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