Sabah Health Dept to monitor security guards unpaid wages issue, says security at Beaufort Hospital unaffected

The Sabah Health Department is taking the issue of unpaid claims to security guards in Beaufort Hospital seriously and will closely monitor the situation. Sabah Health director Dr Asits Sanna, in a press release posted on the department’s Facebook page, responded to a statement by a group of 14 security guards from Beaufort district hospital who claimed that the security company had failed to pay the claims ordered by the Labour Court in the past.

Dr Asits assured that the security protection system at the hospital has not been compromised, as there are adequate guards on duty. He also emphasized that treatment services at the hospital are being conducted as usual.

According to a news report on August 29, the Labour Court ruled in favor of the security guards on August 14, ordering the payment of over RM281,000 in unpaid wages and overtime dating back to May of the previous year, following the implementation of minimum wage adjustments. However, when the employer failed to fulfill the court’s order, the group of security guards promptly resigned. They plan to pursue legal action with the support of their appointed lawyer.

Dr Asits explained that the provision of security and protection services in government hospitals in Sabah is outsourced to qualified private security companies that meet the necessary requirements. He said, “After the government introduced the minimum salary directive in 2022, which increased the figure from RM1,200 to RM1,500, the Department instructed all contracted security companies to submit a written request for contract price adjustment to the government.”

He continued, “We have received an application from the company responsible for security coverage at Beaufort hospital. However, according to the statements given by the resigning security guards, it appears that the company did not make the necessary salary adjustments as mandated by the government.” Dr Asits expressed hope that the matter between the security guards and the company can be resolved fairly and swiftly.