BANGI: A group of 24 MYAirline Sdn Bhd employees, represented by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has filed a claim over their unpaid wages amounting to RM 200,000 at the Labour Department Office, here.
MTUC secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Mansor, the claim was made after the airline had failed to pay the salary of the workers.
"It should not happen like this, when the company has failed to pay their wages, we have no option but to come to the Labour Department Office, here to file a claim.
"These batch of 24 workers were owed the wages of September and October, amounting to approximately RM200,000."
Kamarul also said that the MTUC casts their doubt over MYAirline's ability and professional attitude of its managing bodies as they should not have to wait for the workers to claim for their wages.
"The management had probably wanted to make it difficult (for their employees to receive their wages) where they were forced to come to the Labour Department Office, here.
"They were issued payslips for their wages online, but were not paid.
"They must understand the hardship that the employees are facing, where they have not received the final word whether they are laid off or not," he said.
He said that MYAirline should not come up with the excuse for not paying their workers, regardless if they areare waiting for new investors or even help from the government.
"They should not come up with such excuses, if they could not, they should declare to their employees that they are being laid off, so that these workers can continue to find a livelihood elsewhere."
Kamarul also added that the Labour Department Office had informed that a discussion will be made between the company representatives and the workers on Nov 24 at the USJ Labour Department Office, Subang Jaya.
He also called for other employees who had not made their claims against the airline to do so.
On Oct 12, MYAirline announced the sudden suspension of its flight operations due to financial pressures.
Several reports also cited that the budget carrier is struggling financially as payments to its service providers were delayed and employees' salaries were not paid on time.