A surprise enforcement operation by the Law Enforcement Division of the Department of Labour uncovered 10 violations of the Employment Order, Chapter 278, at commercial premises in Tutong District on March 26.
Dubbed ‘Operasi Waspada 63/2025’, the inspection targeted six tailoring shops and one electrical repair store.
Among the offences were the failure to pay full wages and overtime pay (Chapter 39), the failure to provide rest days (Chapter 63), requiring employees to work on rest days (Chapter 64) and the failure to provide public holiday leave (Chapter 70).
The other offences were the failure to grant paid annual leave (Chapter 71), the failure to provide certified sick leave (Chapter 72), lack of first-aid facilities on-site (Chapter 82), breach of foreign worker licence conditions including operating at unauthorised locations (Chapter 86) and the failure to provide return transportation to workers’ home countries (Chapter 116).
The operation aimed to ensure employers comply with the Employment Order and safeguard workers’ welfare.
The Department of Labour said investigations are ongoing, and employers found guilty of violations may be issued compound fines not exceeding BND1,000 per offence. The failure to settle the compounds may result in the employer being brought to court. The department reminded employers to regularly monitor their workers’ welfare and ensure full wage payments, overtime compensation, weekly rest days and public holiday leave.
Employers must also provide sick leave certified by a medical practitioner, first-aid kits at the workplace and return tickets for foreign workers. – Fadley Faisal
