马来西亚《国家工资协商委员会法》

繁星追梦

LAWS OF MALAYSIA

ONLINE VERSION OF UPDATED TEXT OF REPRINT

Act 732

NATIONAL WAGES CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL ACT 2011

As at 1 August 2015

An Act to establish a National Wages Consultative Council with the responsibility to conduct studies on all matters concerning minimum wages  and  to  make  recommendation  to  the  Government  to  make minimum wages orders according to sectors, types of employment and regional areas, and to provide for related matters.

[1 December 2011] ENACTED by the Parliament of Malaysia as follows:

PART I

PRELIMINARY

Short title and commencement

1.   (1)    This Act may be cited as the National Wages Consultative Council Act 2011.

(2)   This Act comes into operation on a date to be appointed by the Minister by notification in the Gazette, and the Minister may appoint different dates for the coming into operation of this Act in different parts of Malaysia.

Interpretation

2.    In this Act, unless the context requires otherwise—

“wages” has the same meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Employment  Act  1955  [Act 265],  section  2  of the  Sabah  Labour Ordinance [Cap. 67] or section 2 of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance [Cap. 76];

“minimum wages” means the basic wages to be or as determined under section 23;

“Director General” means—

(a)  in respect  of Peninsular Malaysia, the  Director General of Labour appointed under subsection 3(1) of the Employment Act 1955;

(b)  in respect of Sabah, the Director of Labour appointed under subsection 3(1) of the Sabah Labour Ordinance; or

(c)  in  respect  of  Sarawak,  the  Director  of  Labour  appointed

under subsection 3(1) of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance;

“contract of service” means any agreement, whether oral or in writing, and whether express or implied, whereby one person agrees to  employ  another  person  as  an  employee  and  that  other  person agrees to serve his employer as an employee, but does not include an apprenticeship contract;

“court” means the Magistrate Court;

“employer” means any person who has entered into a contract of service to employ another person as an employee and includes the agent, manager or factor of such first-mentioned person;

“Council”  means  the  National  Wages   Consultative   Council established under section 3;

“Minister” means the Minister charged with the responsibility for human resources;

“enforcement officer” means the officers appointed under section 3  of  the  Employment  Act   1955,  section  3  of  the  Sabah  Labour Ordinance or section 3 of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance;

“employee” means any person or class of persons specified in the following schedules:

(a)  the First Schedule to the Employment Act 1955; (b)  the Schedule to the Sabah Labour Ordinance; or (c)  the Schedule to the Sarawak Labour Ordinance,

but  does not  include the person  or  class  of persons  to whom the minimum wages order is not applicable;

“Chairman” means the Chairman of the Council appointed under section 5;

“minimum wages order” means the order made by the Minister under section 23;

“Secretary” means the Secretary of the Council appointed under section 5.

PART II

NATIONAL WAGES CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL

National Wages Consultative Council

3.   A  council  by  the  name  of  the  “National  Wages  Consultative Council” is established.

Functions and powers of the Council

4.   (1)    The functions of the Council shall be—

(a)  to   advise  the   Government  on  all  matters  relating  to minimum   wages,   including   its   development   at   the international level;

(b)  to  make  recommendations  to  the   Government  on  the minimum wages rates and coverage according to sectors, types of employment and regional areas, and other matters relating to minimum wages and wages;

(c)  to  consult  the  public  on  the  minimum  wages  rates  and coverage;

(d)  to collect and analyse data and information and to conduct research on wages and the socioeconomic indicators;

(e)  to coordinate and supervise, and to evaluate the impact of,

the implementation of minimum wages; (f)  to review the minimum wages order;

(g)  to deliberate on all matters relating to minimum wages; (h)  to disseminate information and analysis on wages; and

(i)  to carry out any other functions as it deems fit to enable it to perform its functions effectively or which are incidental to the performance of its functions.

(2)    The Council shall have the power to do all things expedient or reasonably  necessary  for  or  incidental  to  the  performance  of  its functions.

Membership of the Council

5.   (1)    The  Council  shall  consist  of the  following  members  who shall be appointed by the Minister by notification in the Gazette:

(a)  a Chairman;

(b)  a Deputy Chairman;

(c)  a Secretary;

(d)  at least 5 members from amongst the public officers; (e)  at least 5 members representing the employees;

(f)  at least 5 members representing the employers; and (g)  at least 5 other members.

(2)    The  Chairman,  Deputy  Chairman  and  the  members  of the Council  referred  to  in  paragraph  (1)(g)  shall  be  appointed  from amongst persons—

(a)  who  are not the public officers, employers or members of any trade union; and

(b)  who,   in  the  opinion  of  the  Minister,  have  knowledge, experience and expertise in matters relating to labour and industrial relations.

(3)    The  Secretary  appointed  under  paragraph  (1)(c) shall  be  a public officer.

(4)    The members of the Council referred to in paragraphs (1)(c) and (d) shall be appointed by office.

(5)    The  number  of  members  of  the  Council  appointed  under paragraph (1)(e) shall be the same as the number of members of the

Council appointed under paragraph (1)(f) at anyone time.

(6)    The Council shall consist of members not exceeding twenty- nine persons at anyone time.

Temporary exercise of functions of the Chairman

6.   (1)    The  Deputy  Chairman  shall  act  as  the  Chairman  for  the period when—

(a)  the office of the Chairman is vacant;

(b)  the Chairman is absent from duty or from Malaysia; or

(c)  the  Chairman is, for any other reason, unable to carry out his functions.

(2)    The Deputy Chairman shall, during the period in which he is carrying out the  functions  of the  Chairman under this  section,  be deemed to be the Chairman.

Secretary

7.   (1)    The Secretary shall be responsible—    (a)  to manage the affairs of the Council;

(b)  to implement the decisions of the Council; and

(c)  to carryout any other duties as directed by the Council.

(2)    The  Secretary  shall,  in  carrying  out his responsibilities,  act under the power and direction of the Council.

Tenure of office

8.   (1)    The members of the Council shall hold office for a term not exceeding three years and maybe reappointed.

(2)    Notwithstanding subsection (1), the members of the Council

appointed under paragraphs 5(1)(c) and (d) shall hold office until the appointment is revoked under subsection 10(1).

Allowances

9.   The members of the Council shall be paid such allowances as the Minister may determine.

Revocation of appointment and resignation

10.  (1)  The Minister may, at any time, revoke the appointment of a member of the Council.

(2)    A member of the Council may resign  from office by giving thirty days’ written notice to the Minister.

Vacation of office

11.    (1)    The  office  of a member of the  Council shall be vacated if—

(a)  he dies;

(b)  there  has  been  proved  against  him,  or  he  has  been convicted of, a charge in respect of—

(i)   an  offence  involving  fraud,  dishonesty  or  moral turpitude;

(ii)   an offence under any law relating to corruption; or

(iii)   any  other  offence  punishable with  imprisonment (in itself only or in addition to or in lieu of a fine) for more than two years;

(c)  he becomes a bankrupt;

(d)  he  is  of  unsound  mind  or  is  otherwise  incapable  of discharging his duties;

(e)  he absents himself from two consecutive meetings of the Council without leave of the Chairman, or in the case of

the Chairman, without leave of the Minister;  

(f)  his resignation is accepted by the Minister; or (g)  his appointment is revoked by the Minister.

(2)    If  the  office  of  a  member  of  the  Council  is  vacated,  the Minister may, if necessary, appoint another person to hold the office for the remaining period vacated by that member or for an interim period until a new member is appointed to that office, as the Minister thinks fit.

Meetings

12.    (1)    The Council shall meet at least four times in a year as the Chairman may determine.

(2)    At least fourteen days’ notice in writing or by electronic mail shall be given to the members of the Council.

Procedure at meetings

13.    (1)    The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Council and—

(a)  in  the  absence of the Chairman at any meeting of the Council  for  any  reason,  the  Deputy  Chairman   shall preside at the meeting; or

(b)  in   the   absence   of   the   Chairman   and   the   Deputy Chairman at any meeting of the Council for any reason, any  other  member  of  the  Council  appointed  by  the Chairman shall preside at the meeting.

(2)    The   quorum   of  the   Council   shall   be  two-thirds  of  the members of the Council, including the Chairman.

(3)    Every member present at the meeting of the Council shall be entitled to one vote.

(4)    If there  is  an  equality  of votes,  the  Chairman,  the  Deputy Chairman  or  any  other  member  presiding  at  the  meeting  of  the

Council under subsection (1) shall have the casting vote.

Minutes

14.    (1)    The Council shall cause the minutes of all its meetings to be maintained and kept in proper form.

(2)    Any minutes made of a meeting of the Council shall, if duly signed  by  the  Chairman,  be  admissible  in  evidence  in  all  legal proceedings without further proof.

(3)    Every meeting of the Council in respect of which minutes of the proceedings have been made in accordance with subsection (2) shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  duly  convened  and  held  and  all members at the meeting to have been duly qualified to act.

Council may invite others to meetings

15.    (1)    The Council may invite any person not being a member of the  Council  to  attend  its  meetings  to  advise  on  any  matter  under discussion, but that person is not entitled to vote at the meeting.

(2)    Any  person invited under  subsection (1) may be paid such allowances as the Council may determine.

Procedure

16.    Subject   to  this  Act,  the   Council  may  determine  its  own procedure.

Council may establish committees

17.    (1)    The Council may establish any committee as it considers necessary or expedient to assist it in the performance of its functions.

(2)    The  Council  shall  appoint  any  of  its  members  to  be  the chairman of a committee.

(3)    The Council may appoint any of its members or any qualified persons to be members of a committee.

(4)    The members of a committee maybe paid such allowances as the Council may determine.

(5)    The Council may at any time revoke the appointment of any member of a committee, make changes in the  composition  of the

members of a committee or dissolve a committee.

(6)    Subject to  any  direction of the Council, the committee may determine its own procedure.

(7)    The chairman of each committee shall cause minutes of all its meetings to be maintained and kept in proper form and copies of the minutes shall be submitted by the committee to the Council as soon as practicable.

(8)    A  committee may invite any person not being a member of the committee to attend its meetings to advise on any matter under discussion, but that person is not entitled to vote at the meeting.

(9)    Any  person invited under  subsection (8) may be paid such allowances as the Council may determine.

Secretariat

18.    (1)    There  shall  be  a  secretariat  to  the  Council  with  such number of public officers to assist the Council and the Secretary.

(2)    The  secretariat  shall be  subject to the direction, control and supervision of the Secretary.

Funds

19.    The Government shall provide sufficient funds for the Council annually to enable the Council to perform its functions and exercise its powers under this Act.

Validity of acts and proceedings

20.   No  act  done  or  proceeding  taken  under  this  Act   shall  be questioned on the ground of—

(a)  any vacancy in the membership of, or any defect in the establishment of, the Council; or

(b)  any  omission,  defect  or  irregularity  not  affecting  the merits of the case.

PART III

MINIMUM WAGES ORDER

Council to have consultation, etc.

21.    Before  any  recommendation  is  made  under  section  22,  the Council shall take the following actions:

(a)  have   consultation  with  the  public  on  the  minimum wages rates and coverage in such manner as the Minister may determine; and

(b)  collect  and  analyse  data  and  information  and  conduct

research on wages and the socioeconomic indicators.

Council to make recommendation

22.    (1)    Based on the actions taken under section 21, the Council shall,   at   such   time   as   the   Minister   may   determine,   make   a recommendation  to  the  Government  through  the  Minister  on  the following matters:

(a)  the minimum wages rates;

(b)  the coverage of the recommended minimum wages rates according to sectors, types of employment and regional areas;

(c)  the   non-application   of   the  recommended  minimum wages  rates  and  coverage  to  any  sectors,  types  of employment and regional areas or to any person or class of persons;

(d)  the commencement of the minimum wages order and the different dates for the commencement of the minimum wages order to different sectors, types of employment and regional areas, or to different persons or class of persons; and

(e)  other matters relating to the minimum wages, including the   implementation   of  the   recommended   minimum wages rates and coverage.

(2)    The       Government       may,       after       considering       the recommendation—

(a)  agree with the recommendation; or

(b)  direct the Council to review the recommendation within the period as the Government may determine and make a fresh recommendation.

(3)    Where  the  Government  directs  the  Council  to  review  the recommendation and make a fresh recommendation under paragraph

(2)(b), section 21 and subsection (1) shall apply.

(4)    The     Government    may,     after     considering    the     fresh recommendation made pursuant to subsection (3)—

(a)  agree with the fresh recommendation; or

(b)  disagree with the  fresh recommendation and determine the matters specified in paragraphs (1)(a) to (e).

Minimum wages order

23.    (1)    Where the  Government  agrees with the recommendation of the Council under paragraph 22(2)(a) or 22(4)(a) or determines the matters under paragraph 22(4)(b), the Minister shall, by notification in the Gazette, make a minimum wages order on the matters specified in  paragraphs  22(1)(a) to  (e)  as  agreed  to  or  determined  by  the Government.

(2)    The Minister may, upon the direction of the Government, by notification  in  the  Gazette,  amend  or  revoke  the  minimum  wages order.

Effect of the minimum wages order

24.    (1)    For  the  purpose  of  this  section,  “contract  of  service” includes  the  collective  agreement  made  under  section   14  of  the  Industrial Relations Act 1967 [Act 177].

(2)    Where  the rates  of the basic wages agreed in a contract of service is lower than the minimum wages rates as specified in the minimum wages order, the rates shall be substituted with any rates not lower than the minimum wages rates as specified in the minimum wages order.

(3)    Where  the rates  of the basic wages agreed in a contract of service is higher than the minimum wages rates as specified in the minimum wages order, the rates shall not be reduced to any rates lower than the rates  of the basic wages  agreed  in the  contract  of service.

(4)    Nothing  in this  section  shall be construed as preventing an employer and an employee from agreeing to any rates of the basic wages which are higher than the minimum wages rates as specified in the minimum wages order.

Council to review minimum wages order

25.    (1)    The Council shall, at least once in every two years, review the minimum wages order.

(2)    Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Council may, on its own accord or upon the direction of the Government, review the minimum wages order.

(3)    The review made under subsection (1) or (2) shall be on the matters specified in paragraphs 22(1)(a) to (e) and for the purpose of evaluating  the  effectiveness  of the  minimum  wages  order  and  its implication on the social and economic development of the country.

(4)    Where the Council is satisfied that any matter specified in the minimum wages order needs to be amended, sections 21, 22 and 23 shall apply.

PART IV

INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Powers of the enforcement officer

26.    An enforcement officer shall have all powers to—  (a)  investigate into any offence under this Act; (b)  conduct any inquiry under this Act; and

(c)  enforce any provision of this Act.

Production of authority card

27.    (1)    The  Director  General   shall  issue  to  each  enforcement officer  an  authority  card  which  shall  be  signed  by  the  Director General.

(2)    Whenever   such  enforcement  officer  exercises  any  of  the powers under this Act, he shall, on demand, produce to the person against whom the power is being exercised the authority card issued to him under subsection (1).

Search and seizure with warrant

28.    (1)    If it appears to a Magistrate, upon written information on oath and after such inquiry as he considers necessary, that there is a reasonable cause to believe that—

(a)  any premises have been used or are about to be used for; or

(b)  there   is  in  any  premises   evidence  necessary  to   the conduct of an investigation into,

the commission of an offence under this Act, the Magistrate may issue  a  warrant  authorizing  an  enforcement  officer  named  in  the warrant,  at  any  reasonable  time,  by  day  or  by  night  and  with  or without assistance, to enter the premises and if need be by force.

(2)    A  warrant  issued  under  subsection  (1)  may  authorize  the enforcement officer to—

(a)  search the premises for, and to seize or remove from the premises  any  book  of  account  of  wages,   register, financial statement or other document that is reasonably believed to furnish evidence of the commission of the offence;

(b)  take samples of any book of account of wages, register, financial  statement  or  other  document  found  in  the premises for the purposes of ascertaining, by examining or otherwise, whether the offence has been committed; and

(c)  make  copies  of  or  take   extracts  from  any  book  of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document found in the premises.

(3)    Any book of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document shall be admissible as evidence in any proceedings in court under this Act against the person or any other person.

(4)    An  enforcement  officer  entering  any  premises  under  this section may take with him such other persons and equipment as may appear to him to be necessary.

(5)    An  enforcement  officer  may, in the exercise of his powers under this section, if it is necessary so to do—

(a)  break  open any outer or inner door of the premises  or any  fence,  enclosure,  gate  or  other  obstruction  to  the premises, in order to effect entry into the premises;

(b)  forcibly   enter   the  premises   and   every  part   of  the premises;

(c)  remove by force any obstruction to entry, search, seizure or  removal  as  he  is  empowered  to  effect  under  this section; and

(d)  detain any person found in the premises until the search has been completed.

(6)    Where,  by  reason  of  its  nature,  size  or  amount,  it  is  not practical to remove any book of account of wages, register, financial statement   or    other   document    seized   under    this   section,    the enforcement officer shall, by any means, seal such book of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document in the premises

or container in which it is found.

(7)    Any  person who, without  lawful authority, breaks, tampers with or damages the seal referred to in subsection (6) or removes the book  of  account  of  wages,  register,  financial  statement  or  other document under seal or attempts to do so commits an offence.

Search and seizure without warrant

29.    If the enforcement officer is satisfied upon information received that he has reasonable cause to believe that by reason of delay in obtaining a search warrant under section 28 the investigation would be adversely affected or evidence of the commission of an offence is likely  to  be  tampered  with,  removed,  damaged  or  destroyed,  the enforcement officer may enter the premises and exercise in, upon and in respect of the premises all the powers referred to in section 28 in as full  and  ample  a  manner  as  if he  were  authorized to  do  so  by  a warrant issued under that section.

Access to recorded information, computerized data, etc.

30.    (1)    An   enforcement   officer   exercising   his   powers  under section 28 or 29 shall be given access to any recorded information or computerized or digitalized data, whether  stored in  a  computer  or otherwise.

(2)    In exercising his powers, the enforcement officer—

(a)  may  inspect  and check the operation of any computer and any associated apparatus or material which he has reasonable  cause  to   suspect  is  or  has  been  used  in connection with that information or data; and

(b)  may require—

(i)   the person, by whom or on whose behalf, the officer has reasonable cause to suspect, the computer is or has been so used; or

(ii)   the   person   having   charge   of,   or   is   otherwise concerned  with,  the  operation  of  the   computer, apparatus  or  material,  to  provide  him  with   such reasonable  assistance  as  he  may  require   for  the purposes of this section.

(3)    The enforcement officer may make copies or take extracts of the  recorded  information,  computerized  or  digitalized  data  if  he deems it necessary.

(4)    For  the  purposes  of  this  section,  “access”  includes  being provided with the necessary password, encryption code, decryption code, software or hardware and any other means required to enable comprehension of recorded information, computerized or digitalized data.

Warrant admissible notwithstanding defects

31.    A  search  warrant  issued  under  this  Act  shall  be  valid  and enforceable notwithstanding any defect, mistake or omission in the warrant or in the application for the warrant, and any book of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document seized under the warrant shall be admissible in evidence in any proceedings under this Act.

List of book of account of wages, etc., seized

32.    (1)    Except as provided in subsection (2), where any book of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document is seized under this Act, the enforcement officer making the seizure—

(a)  shall prepare—

(i)   a  list  of  the  book  of  account  of  wages,  register, financial  statement  or  other  document  seized  and shall sign the list; and

(ii)   a   written   notice   of   the   seizure   containing   the grounds for the seizure and shall sign the notice; and

(b)  shall as soon as practicable serve a copy of the list of the book of account of wages, register,  financial statement or other document seized and the written notice of the seizure to the occupier of the premises which have been searched, or to his agent or servant at those premises.

(2)    The written notice of the  seizure  shall not be required to be served  under  paragraph  (1)(b) where  the  seizure  is  made  in  the presence of the person against whom proceedings under this Act are intended to be taken, or in the presence of the owner of the property or his agent, as the case maybe.

(3)    If the premises are unoccupied, the enforcement officer shall post a copy of the list of the book of account of wages, register,financial statement or other document seized conspicuously on the premises.

Release of the book of account of wages, etc., seized

33.    (1)    If  any   book  of  account   of  wages,  register,  financial statement  or  other  document  has  been  seized  under  this  Act,  the enforcement officer who effected the seizure may, after referring to the Public Prosecutor, release the book of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document to the person as he determines to be lawfully entitled to it, if the book of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document is not required for the purpose of  any  proceedings   under  this  Act   or  for  the  purpose  of  any prosecution under any other written law, and in such event neither the enforcement    officer    effecting    the    seizure,    nor    the    Federal Government,   or   any   person   acting   on   behalf   of   the   Federal Government shall be liable to any proceedings by any person if the seizure and the release of the book of account of wages, register, financial  statement  or  other  document  had  been  effected  in  good faith.

(2)    A record in writing shall be made by the enforcement officer effecting  the  release  of  the  book  of  account  of  wages,  register, financial statement or other document under subsection (1) specifying in detail the circumstances of and the reason for the release, and he shall send a copy of the record to the Public Prosecutor within seven days of the release.

No cost or damages arising from seizure to be recoverable

34.   No person shall, in any proceedings before any court in respect of any book of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document  seized  in  the  exercise  or  the  purported  exercise  of any power  conferred  under  this  Act,  be  entitled  to  the  costs  of  such proceedings or to any damages or other relief unless such seizure was made without reasonable cause.

Obstruction to exercise of powers by enforcement officer

35.    Any person who—

(a)  refuses any enforcement officer access to any premises which the enforcement officer is entitled to have under this  Act  or  in  the  execution  of  any  duty  imposed  or power conferred by this Act;

(b)  assaults,  obstructs,  hinders  or  delays  any  enforcement officer  in  effecting  any  entry  which  the  enforcement officer  is  entitled  to  effect  under  this  Act,  or  in  the execution of any duty imposed or power conferred by this Act; or

(c)  refuses any enforcement officer any information relating to an offence or suspected offence under this Act or any other information which may reasonably be required of him  and which he has  in his knowledge  or power to give,commits an offence.

Powers to require the production of book of account of wages,etc.

36.    (1)    An  enforcement  officer  in  carrying  out  an  investigation under  this  Part  may  require  any  person  whom  he  believes  to  be acquainted with the facts and circumstance of the case—

(a)  to  produce  to  the  enforcement  officer,  any  book  of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document  whether  in  physical  form  or  in   electronic medium; and

(b)  to make copies of, or extracts from any book of account of wages,register, financial statement or other document and to produce copies or extracts of such documents, as the case maybe, to the enforcement officer.

(2)    Any person who refuses or fails to comply with the direction made  by  the  enforcement  officer  under  this  section  commits  an offence.

Enforcement officer may retain documents

37.    (1)    The enforcement officer may take and retain, for as long as is necessary, possession of any document obtained under this Part.

(2)    The  person  who  provided  the  document  is  entitled  to  be supplied,  as  soon  as  practicable,  with  a  copy  certified  by  the enforcement officer to be a true copy of the document.

(3)    Notwithstanding the provisions of any other written law, the certified copy of the document shall be admissible as evidence as if it were the original document.

(4)    If the enforcement officer is satisfied that the retaining of the document is no longer necessary, the enforcement officer may return the document to the person who provided the document as soon as practicable.

Access to records

38.    (1)    A person shall, if at any time directed by an enforcement officer, allow the enforcement officer to have access to his book of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document for the purposes of carrying out any of the enforcement officer’s powers under this Act.

(2)    Any person who fails to comply with the direction made by the enforcement officer under subsection (1) commits an offence.

Power to require attendance of persons acquainted with case

39.    (1)    An enforcement officer making an investigation under this Act may, by order in writing, require the attendance before himself of any person who appears to the enforcement officer to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case, and such person shall attend as so required.

(2)    If any  person  refuses  or  fails  to  attend  as  so  required,  the enforcement officer may report such refusal or failure to a Magistrate who shall issue a summons to secure the attendance of such person as maybe required by the order made under subsection (1).

Examination of persons acquainted with case

40.    (1)    An enforcement officer making an investigation under this Act may examine orally any person supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case and shall reduce into writing any statement made by the person so examined.

(2)    Such person shall be bound to answer all questions relating to the case put to him by the enforcement officer:

Provided that such person may refuse to answer any question the answer to which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge or penalty or forfeiture.

(3)    A  person  making  a  statement  under  this  section  shall  be legally bound to  state  the truth, whether  or not  such  statement  is made wholly or partly in answer to questions.

(4)    The enforcement officer examining a person under subsection

(1) shall first inform that person of the provisions of subsections (2) and (3).

(5)    A  statement  made  by  any  person  under  this  section  shall, whenever  possible,  be  taken  down  in  writing  and  signed  by  the person making it or affixed with his thumb print, as the case maybe,after it has been read to him in the language in which he made it and after he has been given an opportunity to make any corrections he may wish.

Admission of statements in evidence

41.    (1)    Except as provided in this section, no statement made by any person to an enforcement officer in the course of an investigation made under this Act shall be used in evidence.

(2)    When  any  witness  is  called  for  the  prosecution  or  for  the defence, other than the accused, the court shall, on the request of the accused  or  the  prosecutor,  refer  to  any  statement  made  by  that witness to the enforcement officer in the course of the investigation under this Act and may then, if the court thinks fit in the interest of justice, direct the accused to be furnished with a copy of it and the statement may be used to impeach the credit of the witness in the manner provided by the Evidence Act 1950 [Act 56].

(3)    Where the accused had made a statement during the course of an  investigation,  such  statement  may  be  admitted  in  evidence  in support of his defence during the course of the trial.

(4)    Nothing  in  this  section  shall  be  deemed  to  apply  to  any statement made in the course of an identification parade or falling within section 27 or paragraphs 32(1)(a), (i) and (j) of the Evidence Act 1950.

(5)    When any person is charged with an offence in relation to— (a)  the making; or

(b)  the contents,

of any statement made by him to an enforcement officer in the course of an investigation made under this Act, that statement may be used as evidence in the prosecution’s case.

Admissibility of documents, etc.

42.    (1)     For  the  purpose   of  any  proceedings  under  this  Act,   an enforcement officer may prepare a report which consists of the following:

(a)  the  difference  between  the  minimum  wages  rates  as specified  in  the  minimum  wages  order  and  the  basic wages paid by the employer to the employee, including the outstanding differences;

(b)  other payments  accrued  from the  calculation of wages based on the basic wages which shall be in accordance with  the  minimum  wages  rates  as  specified  in  the minimum wages order; and

(c)  other  matters  relating  to  the  employer,  employee  and contract of service.

(2)    The  report  prepared  under  subsection  (1) and any documents issued by the employer to the employee indicating the payment ofwages

shall be prima facie evidence in any proceedings under this Act. PART V

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

Offence

43.    An employer who fails to pay the basic wages as specified in the minimum wages order to his employees commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine of not more than ten thousand ringgit for each employee.

Court order

44.    (1)    Where  the  employer  has  been  convicted  of  an  offence under section 43, the court before which he is convicted may order the employer to pay—

(a)  the   difference  between  the  minimum  wages  rate   as specified  in  the  minimum  wages  order  and  the  basic wages paid by the employer to the employee, including the outstanding differences; and

(b)  other payments  accrued  from the  calculation of wages based on the basic wages which shall be in accordance with  the  minimum  wages  rates  as  specified  in  the minimum wages order.

(2)    The calculation of the differences and other payments accrued under   subsection   (1)    shall   be   made   in    accordance   with   the Employment Act 1955, Sabah Labour Ordinance or Sarawak Labour Ordinance, as the case maybe.

(3)    Where an employer fails to comply with an order made under subsection (1), the court shall, on the application of the employee, issue a warrant to levy the employer’s property for the differences and other payments accrued under subsection (1) in the following manner:

(a)  by way of distress and sale of the employer’sproperty in accordance with the same procedure of execution under the  Subordinate  Courts  Rules  1980  [P.U.  (A) 328/80] and   this   execution   shall   apply   mutatis  mutandis notwithstanding the amount in the order; or

(b)  in the same manner as a fine as provided under section 283 of the Criminal Procedure Code [Act 593].

General penalty

45.    Any person who commits an offence under this Act for which no penalty is expressly provided shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand ringgit.

Penalty in the case of a continuing offence

46.    Any person convicted of an offence under this Act shall, in the case  of  a  continuing  offence,  be  liable,  in  addition  to  any  other penalty to which he is liable under this Act in respect of such offence, to a daily fine not exceeding one thousand ringgit for each day the offence continues after conviction.

Penalty in the case of a repeated offence

47.    Any person convicted of an offence under this Act shall, in the case of a repeated offence, be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.

PART VI

GENERAL

Responsibility of employer for offences committed by members of   board of directors, etc.

48.    (1)    Where  an  offence  against any provision of this Act has been committed by a person who at the time of the commission of the offence was—

(a)  a member of the board of directors; (b)  an officer;

(c)  an employee; or

(d)  an agent,of  the   employer,  the   employer  shall  be  deemed  to  have  also committed that offence.

(2)    In a prosecution against an employer under subsection (1), by virtue of an offence committed by—

(a)  a member of the board of directors; (b)  an officer;

(c)  an employee; or

(d)  an agent,of the employer, it shall be a defence for any employer prosecuted under subsection (1) if the employer proves—

(A)   that the offence was committed without the knowledge, consent or connivance of the employer; and

(B)   that the employer has taken all reasonable precautions and   exercised   all   due   diligence   to   prevent   the commission of the offence as the employer sought to have taken and exercised, having regard to the nature of the functions of the member of the board  of directors, officer, employee or agent in that capacity and to all the circumstances.

Offences by body corporate, etc.

49.    If an employer who is a body corporate, partnership or society commits an offence under this Act—

(a)  in the case of a body corporate, any person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate;

(b)  in   the   case  of  a   partnership,  every  partner  in  the partnership at the time of the commission of the offence; or

(c)  in  the  case  of  a   society,  every  office-bearer  of  the society at the time of the commission of the offence,may be charged severally or jointly in the same proceedings with the body  corporate,  partnership  or  society  and  if the  body  corporate, partnership or society is found to have committed the offence, shall be deemed to have committed that offence unless, having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all circumstances, he proves—

(A)   that the offence was committed without his knowledge, consent or connivance; and

(B)   that   he   had   taken   all   reasonable   precautions   and exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.

Public Authorities Protection Act 1948

50.    The  Public  Authorities  Protection  Act   1948   [Act 198]  shall apply  to  any  action,  suit,  prosecution  or  proceedings  against  the Director General or any member of the Council or committee or any enforcement officer in respect of any act, neglect or default done or omitted by him in such capacity.

Public servant

51.    The  Director  General   or  any  member  of  the   Council   or committee or any enforcement officer while discharging his duty or performing his functions or exercising his powers under this Act in such  capacity  shall  be  deemed  to  be  a  public  servant  within  the meaning of the Penal Code [Act 574].

Protection against suits and legal proceedings

52.   No action, suit, prosecution or any other proceeding shall lie or be brought, instituted or maintained in any court against—

(a)  the Government; (b)  the Minister;

(c)  the Director General;

(d)  any member of the Council or committee; or

(e)  any person lawfully acting on behalf of the Council,

in respect of any act, neglect or default done or omitted by him or it in good faith, in such capacity.

Protection of informers

53.    (1)    Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3), no witness in  any civil  or criminal proceedings pursuant to this Act  shall be obliged or permitted to disclose the name or address of any informer or the substance and nature of the information received from him or state any matter which might lead to his discovery.

(2)    If any book of account of wages, register, financial statement or other document which is in evidence or is liable to inspection in any civil or criminal proceedings whatsoever contains any entry in which any informer is named or described or which might lead to his discovery, the court shall cause all such entries to be concealed from view or to be obliterated in so far as may be necessary to protect the informer from discovery.

(3)    If in a trial for any offence under this Act the court, after full inquiry into the case, is of the opinion that the informer willfully made  in  his   complaint  a  material   statement  which  he  knew  or believed to be false or did not believe to be true, or if in any other proceedings the court is of the opinion that justice cannot be fully done between the parties in the proceeding without the discovery of the informer, the court may require the production of the original complaint,  if  in  writing,  and  permit  an  inquiry  and  require  full disclosure concerning the informer.

Obligations of secrecy

54.    (1)    Except  for  any  of the  purposes  of this  Act  or  for  the purposes of any civil or criminal proceedings under any written law, or as approved by the Minister—

(a)  no member  of the  Council or committee, or officer of the Council, while he serves as chairman, member or officer, shall disclose any information which has been obtained by him in the course of his duties; and

(b)  no other person who, by any means, has access to  any information or documents relating to the affairs of the Council shall disclose such information or documents.

(2)    Any  person  who   contravenes  subsection  (1)  commits  an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

Prosecution

55.   No prosecution for an offence under this Act shall be instituted except by or with the written consent of the Public Prosecutor.

Compounding of offences

56.    (1)    The Director General may, with the consent in writing of the  Public  Prosecutor,  compound  any  offence  committed  by  any person under this Act and prescribed to be a compoundable offence by making a written offer to the person suspected to have committed the offence to compound the offence upon payment to the Director General of an amount of money not exceeding fifty per centum of the amount of maximum fine for that offence within such time as maybe specified in his written offer.

(2)    An offer under subsection (1) may be made at any time after the offence has been committed but before any prosecution for it has been instituted, and if the amount specified in the offer is not paid within the time specified in the offer or such extended time as the Director  General  may  grant,  prosecution  for  the  offence  may  be instituted at any time after that against the person to whom the offer was made.

(3)    Where an offence has been compounded under subsection (1), no prosecution shall be instituted in respect of the offence against the person to whom the offer to compound was made, and any book of account  of wages,  register,  financial  statement  or  other  document seized in connection with the offence maybe released or forfeited by the  Director  General,  subject  to  such  terms  and  conditions  as  he thinks  fit  to  impose  in  accordance  with  the  conditions  of  the compound.

Power to make regulations

57.    The Minister may make such regulations as may be necessary and expedient for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

Repeal and dissolution

58.    (1)    The  Wages  Council  Act  1947  [Act 195]  (“the  repealed Act”) is repealed.

(2)    All  wages  councils  established  under  the  repealed  Act  are dissolved.

Savings

59.    (1)    Any  wages  council  order  made  under  the  repealed Act shall continue in force until it is revoked or replaced by the minimum wages order made by the Minister under this Act.

(2)    All  rules,  regulations, orders, notices, forms, directions and letters of authorization made, issued or given under the repealed Act shall,  in  so  far  as  the  rules,  regulations,  orders,  notices,  forms, directions and letters of authorization are consistent with this Act, continue in force until it is revoked or replaced by this Act.

(3)    Any inquiry, trial or proceedings done, taken or commenced under the repealed Act immediately before the commencement of this Act shall be continued and concluded under and in accordance with the provisions of the repealed Act.

References

60.    All  references  to  the  repealed  Act  in  any  written   law  or document shall be construed as references to this Act.

Things done in anticipation of the enactment of this Act

61.    All acts and things done by any person in preparation for or in anticipation  of  the  enactment  of  this   Act  and  any  expenditure incurred in relation thereto shall be deemed to have been authorized under this Act, provided that the acts and things done are consistent with the general intention and purposes of this Act, and all rights and obligations acquired or incurred as a result of the doing of those acts or things, including any expenditure incurred in relation thereto, shall on the coming into operation of this Act be deemed to be the rights and obligations of the Council.

LAWS OF MALAYSIA

Act 732

NATIONAL WAGES CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL ACT 2011