Salaries must be paid even if premises are closed - Counsellor

Employers are still required to pay their workers' salaries for the two weeks of the Restricted Movement Order from March 18 to 31.

According to human resources lawyer, Firdaus Zakaria, the Restricted Movement Order is being implemented in accordance with three acts, the Employment Act 1955, the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967 which requires workers to be at home.

"This is an instruction for all workers to work as usual, only that they are required to work from home. It is not a leave of absence (but) a method of controlling movement only.

"They need to be paid a normal salary, except the question of an allowance which is a different matter because it is not a must to pay," he said when contacted by Astro AWANI.

Firdaus said for jobs that cannot be performed at home such as a production operator, the employer must bear the salary for the duration of the Restricted Movement Order.

"It has to be complied with. For example factory workers who must be in the factory, but following the government's instructions to stay home, they need to be in their homes.

"They must be paid salaries and that cannot be deducted,” he added.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said in a televised address on Monday that only 14 critical sectors were allowed to operate during the duration of the Restricted Movement Order.

The sectors include water, electricity, energy, telecommunications, postal, transportation, irrigation, oil, gas, fuel, lubricants, broadcasting, finance, banking, health, pharmacy, fire, prisons, ports, airports, security, defence, cleaning, retail and food supply.