Judicial commissioner Su Tiang Joo said the labour tribunal was correct to conclude the complaints came under the purview of the Employment Act 1955.

“As such, they have an employment contract with the employer,” he said.

Su also affirmed the lower court’s order for the company to pay interest at 8% to the workers for the outstanding sum owed, calculated from Sept 16 last year until the judgment sum is settled.

F.Y. Sdn Bhd, which is involved in supplying frozen chicken products, had said the workers were independent contractors.

The complainants, represented by S Muhendaran and Chang Wan Loo, were only paid based on the number of trips they made.

The lower court last year ordered the company to pay a total of RM115,786.86 in outstanding overtime, rest day and public holiday payments ranging between six months and two years.

Husaini Mahaiyidin, S Jayakanthan, L Krishnan, P Manogaran, Mohd Yunus Mohd Natrah, Mohd Shamsuri Mohamad Radzi and Suhaili Mohd Radzi, who filed the claims, worked for the company from Aug 21, 2017 to April 4, 2019.

They were terminated from work between April 30 and May 5 last year.