SOME 66 Bangladeshi workers from the Malaysia-run Ramatex Textile Factory plan to challenge their alleged unfair dismissal from the company a week ago.
Legal counsel for the disgruntled workers, Olivier’s Law Office, confirmed yesterday that it would institute legal action on behalf of their clients this week. A representative for the workers also said they hoped to meet with factory management this week to plead for their July salaries and have their passports returned to them.This follows a High Court reprieve last Wednesday which granted the workers the right to stay in the country until next month to fight their case.They were summarily dismissed by the factory for alleged poor work performance.The majority were seamsters in Factory C.The day after they were fired, the company booked them air tickets home and took steps to have their work permits cancelled.But the workers refused to go without a fight and sought intervention from the Labour Ministry and eventually the court.The workers were employed by the factory a year ago, for a three-year period.The factory has been ordered by the court to accommodate the workers until they return to court.Some workers said they were prepared to leave the country if the factory agreed to pay them out for the remainder of the contract.A representative for the workers also said they hoped to meet with factory management this week to plead for their July salaries and have their passports returned to them.This follows a High Court reprieve last Wednesday which granted the workers the right to stay in the country until next month to fight their case.They were summarily dismissed by the factory for alleged poor work performance.The majority were seamsters in Factory C.The day after they were fired, the company booked them air tickets home and took steps to have their work permits cancelled.But the workers refused to go without a fight and sought intervention from the Labour Ministry and eventually the court.The workers were employed by the factory a year ago, for a three-year period.The factory has been ordered by the court to accommodate the workers until they return to court.Some workers said they were prepared to leave the country if the factory agreed to pay them out for the remainder of the contract.
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