PROBLEMS have already begun to crop up in a four-star hotel in Karamunsing that officially opened a week ago regarding unpaid overtime wages since January.
According to staff, they plan to stage a picket and if the situation doesn't improve an official complaint will be lodged with the Labour Department.
"It is said the matter had been brought to management meetings and they agreed to pay in March but there was no written proof. The overtime claim was submitted in February.
"However, the management didn't want to pay the claims and instead offered 'Claim Hour' or replacement off days to compensate the overtime wages.
"The staff didn't agree and renegotiated it with the General Manager but he insisted on the replacement day substitution and to pay discounted overtime wages.
"The staff agreed, 16 hours were deducted from the overtime plus two-day replacement off but until today the management still refused to pay the overtime," he said, Saturday.
Showing a signed petition, he said the matter was also brought to the hotel's human resource department but nothing came of it.
A staff said the issue affected all operational staff and, especially, the Food and Beverage department, most of whom were required to work extra hours.
He said they also notified the Labour Department but were advised to lodge a complaint only when a proper resolution could not be arrived at.
The staff said the GM also once said that the hotel is owned by a Chinese national and, thus, the staff need to the abide by their rules and policies in accordance to the laws of his (foreigner's) country.
"We are disappointed by the actions of our employers who do not respect us nor respect local customs.
It further saddens us to see they are not sensitive about the laws here in Sabah," he said. The hotel currently has 400 workers.
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