The workers said they were dismissed in two batches in January and February and received letters requiring them to leave in two days, while a few received 13-day notices.

They said they were told by Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CZC) that they were being let go as part of a “streamlining” exercise. FMT has contacted CZC for comment, while an executive has told the industrial relations department that the termination was conducted by the book.

Earlier this year, CZC was revealed to have been bought over by Kedah-based ECK Development Sdn Bhd, following the exit of majority stakeholder, Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, after the company was embroiled in corruption scandals.

One of the workers said the company’s workforce had been reduced from 40 to three persons.

They were paid one to three months’ salaries, in lieu of their termination notices. “We were not even called to negotiate or discuss, it was done suddenly. It is a clear case of unjust dismissal and is illegal under the law. Mind you, this is a company building RM6.3 billion worth of infrastructure,” the former worker who did not want to be named told FMT.

The workers said they would pursue their case in the Industrial Court after mediation efforts through the industrial relations department had failed.

CZC had begun early works on a 6km road connecting Air Itam to the coastal highway in February, as part of the larger undersea tunnel and roads project. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.