The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has caused a significant negative impact on the businesses and economy. Many companies have suffered from huge losses and their business may no longer be sustainable. It is not surprising that some of them may decide to “close shop” by reason of their liabilities (“the 1st Scenario”) or be compulsorily wound up by the court by reason of their inability to pay debts (“the 2nd Scenario”).
In both the scenarios, one or more insolvency practitioner will be appointed as the liquidator(s) to manage the affairs of the company in place of the board of directors.
The question then is whether the company’s employees are deemed dismissed?
The 1st Scenario
This process is known as “voluntary winding up”. It is usually initiated voluntarily by a company where it will be able to pay its debts in full within a period of not more than 12 months after the commencement of the winding up.
Upon the commencement of the winding up, the company shall cease to carry on its business except so far as is required in the opinion of the liquidator for the beneficial winding up. Even then, the corporate state and corporate powers of the company shall continue until it is dissolved.
Generally, the mere passing of a resolution for voluntary liquidation does not terminate the employment contracts. However, such resolution may operate as a notice of dismissal if the company says so or if the surrounding circumstances show that the company does not or is unable to continue to fulfill its obligations under the employment contracts.
The 2nd Scenario
In this situation, a petition is usually presented to the court for the winding up of a company by a creditor of an unsatisfied debt of more than RM10,000.00 (which amount has been increased to RM50,000.00 until 31.12.2020 as one of the measures announced by the Companies Commission of Malaysia on 10.4.2020 to reduce the burden of corporate sector during the Movement Control Order). This is known as compulsory court-ordered winding up.
It is generally accepted that a winding up order operates as an automatic notice of dismissal to all the employees of the company. Such termination takes effect by operation of law and does not amount to a dismissal without just cause or excuse.
Be that as it may, it is open to the liquidator to continue employing any or all the employees if he wishes to carry on the business of the company. Such intention and waiver of the notice of dismissal must be done in unequivocal terms. In that respect, the employment contracts may continue to subsist or a new employment contract may be entered between the liquidator and the employees.
What About Employees’ Entitlements?
When a company is wound up, it may or may not have any unencumbered assets for realization and distribution to its creditors. If there are, all unsecured debts shall be paid according to the order of priority as provided under section 527 of the Companies Act 2016 (Act 777).
Employees terminated in both the scenarios discussed above are entitled to claim the following by sending a proof of debt to the liquidator:
Note: The amounts claimed under items 3, 4 and 5 will only be paid on pari passu principle if there is any asset available after all the preferential unsecured creditors listed under section 527 of the Companies Act 2016 (Act 777) are fully paid.
Messrs Kee Sern, Siu & Huey
No. 468-11E(2)
2nd Floor, Block C, Rivercity Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah (Formerly Jalan Ipoh)
51200 Kuala Lumpur
Email: general@ksshlegal.com
Tel: +60(3) 9212 2688
Fax: +60(3) 4044 0448
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