The activist, Daniel Hakeem, speaking at an online forum organised by Dong Zong, said the issue of the exploitation of contract workers was “unique” as it was “enabled” by the government.

“For example, the issue of the strikes by the healthcare workers union demanding better working conditions that involved Edgenta UEMS Sdn Bhd, a contractor company owned by Khazanah Nasional Bhd,” he said, adding that Khazanah Nasional is owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated.

Last week, a group of 40 cleaners at a hospital in Perak held a peaceful picket against Edgenta UEMS, a subsidiary of UEM Edgenta Berhad, and demanded an annual bonus, laundry and shift allowance, more annual leave, 15 days of public holidays, and medical benefits of RM1,000.

Daniel claimed that outspoken workers who demanded better working conditions often faced various forms of retaliation from contract companies.

“You have workers who are transferred to new companies that are far from their homes or stationed at different working places. Workers unable to cope with these difficulties would then resign.

“You also have workers who have been dismissed by companies after they have been found making complaints to the Labour Department,” said Daniel, who is coordinator of the government contract workers’ network, Jaringan Pekerja Kontrak Kerajaan.

Contract workers, who carry out many crucial frontline duties during the Covid-19 pandemic, have complained of various forms of exploitation from contractor companies and have protested and filed suits against their companies.

In April, UEM Edgenta was ordered by the industrial court to pay RM1,211 to Tharani Kutty, a contract worker at Hospital Seri Manjung, Perak, who sued over unpaid overtime wages. The company appealed the decision at the High Court on the same day.

In January, the National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services filed a landmark industrial relations suit against UEM Edgenta and two subsidiaries over allegations of union-busting.