Working together to create healthy workplaces
The Star Online, 29 April 2015
DR MUZAFFAR SYAH MALLOW - Faculty of Syariah and Law,Islamic Science University Malaysia
ON May 1, almost all countries in the world including Malaysia will celebrate Labour day. It is one of the important landmark days to honour and recognise the efforts of workers all around the world irrespective of their professions.
While celebrating the day, it is crucial for every worker, both employer and employee, to fully understand their basic duties and responsibilities at work. This will create more conducive and healthy workplaces for everyone.
The law has listed down clearly the duties and responsibilities which need to be observed and fully implemented by both employer and employee to ensure safe and healthy workplaces.
Such duties and responsibilities can be expressly written in the employment contract while others are generally implied but must be executed.
Under the latter, employers have a duty to, among others, pay wages, provide a reasonable amount of work, and ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees. They are also duty bound not to terminate an employee’s employment on ridiculous or baseless grounds.
On the employees’ part, they have the duty to serve, exercise reasonable skill, obey reasonable and lawful orders, and maintain confidentiality and fidelity towards their employer.
A conducive and healthy working environment will also increase the workers’ productivity and ultimately bring more profits for the organisation.
Considering how hard most people work, it is time for all workers to take full advantage of this holiday to spend time with their family and friends. Happy Labour Day 2015.
