(Bandar Seri Begawan, 1st) According to a statement issued by the Department of Labour, Ministry of Home Affairs, two local company bosses were fined after pleading guilty in the Magistrate’s Court on August 21 for failing to pay wages owed to foreign employees.
The owner of Qharrof Private Limited, Khairul (38 years old) and Asraf (42 years old), admitted on August 21, 2025, to four charges under Section 39(1) of the 2009 Employment Order, for withholding the salaries of two foreign workers for September and October 2024.
An investigation by the Kuala Belait Labour Enforcement Unit revealed that the company failed to pay these two employees’ salaries for five consecutive months from June to October 2024. Each employee was owed BND 2,500. The employers only paid part of the three months’ wages using proceeds from selling the company’s assets, amounting to BND 1,500 for each worker. Each worker still has an outstanding balance of BND 1,000 yet to be paid.
On August 23, 2025, the two were sentenced under Section 148 of the 2009 Employment Order to a fine of BND 1,200 each, or one month’s imprisonment for failing to pay wages. They were required to pay the fine by September 23, 2025.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharwani before Magistrate Sharifah.
The Department of Labour reminds all employers to safeguard the welfare and rights of their workers, particularly to ensure that wages are paid lawfully and on time. The public is urged to report labour violations by calling the department’s enforcement hotline at 7298989 or by emailing info.buruh@buruh.gov.bn.
The owner of Qharrof Private Limited, Khairul (38 years old) and Asraf (42 years old), admitted on August 21, 2025, to four charges under Section 39(1) of the 2009 Employment Order, for withholding the salaries of two foreign workers for September and October 2024.
An investigation by the Kuala Belait Labour Enforcement Unit revealed that the company failed to pay these two employees’ salaries for five consecutive months from June to October 2024. Each employee was owed BND 2,500. The employers only paid part of the three months’ wages using proceeds from selling the company’s assets, amounting to BND 1,500 for each worker. Each worker still has an outstanding balance of BND 1,000 yet to be paid.
On August 23, 2025, the two were sentenced under Section 148 of the 2009 Employment Order to a fine of BND 1,200 each, or one month’s imprisonment for failing to pay wages. They were required to pay the fine by September 23, 2025.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharwani before Magistrate Sharifah.
The Department of Labour reminds all employers to safeguard the welfare and rights of their workers, particularly to ensure that wages are paid lawfully and on time. The public is urged to report labour violations by calling the department’s enforcement hotline at 7298989 or by emailing info.buruh@buruh.gov.bn.