Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has officially opened Johor’s first workers’ hostel that is certified under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act (Act 446) at Frontier Park Hostel in Desa Cemerlang here.
He handed the certificate over to Datuk Jack Wan, the Managing Director of hostel operator Kujaya Management Sdn Bhd in a ceremony also attended by the Director-General of Labour, Asri Ab Rahman and Johor Director of Labour, Zaini Bin Yaacob.
Witnessing the ceremony were Woon Yet Leng, Managing Director of WB Land Sdn Bhd, and Meiban Technology Malaysia Sdn Bhd whose workers are housed at the hostel.
Saravanan later signed a plaque to commemorate the official opening of the five-storey hostel designed and built by WB Land Sdn Bhd and managed by Kujaya Management Sdn Bhd.
On Kujaya Management, Wan said it was a leading RBA-compliant provider of accommodation in Malaysia. RBA regulations are drawn up to ensure workers are treated with respect and dignity, and that business operations are environmentally-responsible and conducted ethically.
He said the hostel was equipped with automated facial recognition facility at its secured entrance and exit point while a thermal-body scanner was deployed to display the temperature of anyone entering the premises.
“Our policy is to manage all our hostels with a focus on safety, health and hygiene to make them feel it’s like home. We practise fair and humane treatment in managing occupants and treat all of them like family members. We comply with all statutory requirements and International Standards such as RBA.”
Wan added that Kujaya has won The Best Hostel Management – Manufacturing Sector, and would be open to guide other dormitory management providers in Malaysia.
He re-iterated that Kujaya has adopted and strictly enforced all the required standard operating procedures stipulated by the Ministry of Health to combat the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The hostel which is now fully occupied, boasts of recreational, canteen and commercial facilities such as food stalls, mini-mart and retail shops that more than meet the basic needs of the workers.
WB Land General Manager Kevin Woon said it was fitting that the hostel has met the requirements of both under Act 446 and RBA as Frontier Park was the first in Johor to provide the Gated, Guarded, and Green pro-business environment with a two-acre Central Park back in 2014.
“We have created an environment that’s suited for both factory operators and staff – winning various accolades including Best Industrial Development,” said Kevin, adding that this first-in-Johor certification was another feather in its cap.
“Not many people know that we are also the first workers’ hostel in Johor to provide a one-acre sports park,” he said.
“Even from the design stage, we have kept in mind the comfort and safety of workers. We used S-form aluminum formwork to build concrete wall structures even at higher cost but this resulted in neater wall finishes,” added Kevin.
With personal space, comfort and convenience factored in, the hostel offers tiled-floors, aluminum window louvres, sockets with USB ports for charging phones and four toilets per apartment.
