Human resources minister Steven Sim gave the warning following the arrest of 46 foreign men for allegedly causing unrest at a workers’ hostel in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, yesterday.

“The ruckus has caused consternation among the people in Bukit Mertajam. So I want to remind every operator to make sure their hostel is in order,” said Sim, who is also Bukit Mertajam MP.

The commotion is believed to have arisen after the workers were dissatisfied with the hostel warden for collecting fines from them without the company’s knowledge.

Sim said the policy on workers’ quarters in Penang was to centralise housing of foreign workers and avoid affecting the lives of local residents. “However, if the operator fails to maintain order, I will have no choice but to ask the government to retract their license.”

Sim also reminded employers of foreign workers to ensure their workers’ welfare is not neglected and they are not bullied by any party.

“When you put your workers in the hostel, you must make sure that no one is asking for money from them for additional stuff. The workers must also have good discipline and not do things that are against local cultures. I will have no qualms retracting the company’s hiring permit if they cannot ensure such matters,” he said.