12 Warning Letters & 10 Years of Service

 12 Warning Letters & 10 Years of Service – And You Think You Can Just Terminate Without Compensation? Boss, this isn’t your grandfather’s company.

Seorang "majikan" tanya saya baru-baru ini:
“Saya dah bagi 12 warning letters. Pekerja dah kerja 10 tahun. Saya nak buang dia sekarang tanpa pampasan dan tanpa notis.”

My response?
You need a crash course in labour law – and a reality check.

📌 Let’s break it down.
Di bawah Akta Kerja 1955, dan lebih penting, Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967 (Seksyen 20), termination must be with just cause and excuse. Kalau tidak, ia adalah penamatan tidak sah (unlawful dismissal).
📎 Relevant Case Law:
Syarikat Kenderaan Melayu Kelantan Bhd v Transport Workers Union [1995] 2 CLJ 748
➤ Mahkamah Persekutuan tekankan bahawa majikan mesti berikan peluang untuk membela diri dan jalankan due inquiry sebelum penamatan.
Goon Kwee Phoy v J & P Coats (M) Bhd [1981] 2 MLJ 129
➤ Hanya bukti yang wujud semasa penamatan boleh digunakan. You cannot terminate first, then try to justify later.
Hong Leong Equipment Sdn Bhd v Liew Fook Chuan [1996] 1 MLJ 481
➤ Mahkamah menyatakan dengan jelas bahawa pekerja tetap yang ditamatkan tanpa sebab munasabah berhak untuk pampasan atau pengembalian kerja (reinstatement).

📌 Warning letters ≠ Licence to fire.
Kalau tak ada domestic inquiry, tak ada prosedur keadilan, dan tiada bukti kukuh, maka termination itu boleh dicabar – dan pekerja boleh menang.
🧨 You don’t just throw away someone after 10 years like expired stock.
You don’t deny them what’s rightfully theirs and expect no consequences.

✅ Kalau misconduct? Prove it.
✅ Kalau incompetence? Document it properly.
✅ Kalau redundancy? Follow retrenchment guidelines & pay termination benefits as per Regulation 6, Employment (Termination and Lay-Off Benefits) Regulations 1980.

Otherwise, don’t call yourself a leader. You’re just another employer misusing power.
Stop hiding behind your title. Start understanding your responsibilities.

Thank you for reading.

Faithfully,

Makcik Labor 😊