KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Health Department is viewing the matter of unpaid claims to security guards in Beaufort Hospital seriously and will monitor the situation.
Sabah Health director Dr Asits Sanna in a press release issued on the department’s Facebook page, said this in response to the statement by a group of 14 security guards of Beaufort district hospital that the security company has failed to pay up the claims ordered by the Labour Court previously.
He however assured that the security protection system in the particular hospital has not been affected with sufficient guards on duty and that treatment services at the hospital are being conducted as usual.
According to a news report on Tuesday (Aug 29), the Labour Court on Aug 14 ruled in favour of the security guards on the total claims of over RM281,000 involving unpaid wages and overtime dating back to May last year, following the minimum wage adjustment introduction.
However the group tendered their immediate resignation when the employer failed to show commitment to comply with the court’s order, and that they plan to continue pursuing the matter through their appointed lawyer.
Dr Asits explained that the security and protection services rendered at government hospitals in Sabah are done through contracts with qualified private security companies that meet the requirements.
“With the government announcement of minimum salary directive 2022 which adjusted the figure to RM1,500 from RM1,200 previously, the Department has ordered all security companies under contract with us to send a written application for the contract pricing adjustment with the government.
“The department has received the application from the company responsible for the security coverage at the Beaufort hospital, however it was learnt that the company did not pay according to the salary adjustment based on the statements made by the security guards who resigned.
“The department hoped this matter between the two parties can be solved in the nearest time in a just manner,” he added.
