the blogging syed shahir

The Star Wednesday June 25, 2008

PETALING JAYA: The Government should urge the private sector to give cost of living allowances to its employees now that the fuel prices have gone up by 41%, said the MTUC.

“There are over seven million private sector workers and they need to make ends meet now that the cost of consumer goods has also gone up,’’ said MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud.

“They need additional income in times like this,’’ he said. “We want the Government to urge employers to consider the workers’ needs.”

Aliran

Friday, 13 June 2008

Rising food and fuel prices mean the real purchasing power of workers’ wages is plunging fast. What we have seen is economic growth that has only benefited business owners, thus increasing the income divide. Are we to deny workers the very basics in life just so that businesses can thrive and record huge profits, asks Syed Shahir Mohamud.

The May Day celebration this year carried a very special significance for workers in this country. Malaysia is at a point in her history where there is a revolutionary shift in its entire political paradigm, which would include the rights of workers and trade unions.

Trade unionism, just like many other civil institutions in this country, had been under relentless attack by a Government which implemented policies that favoured the rich at the expense of the workers of this country. The contribution of workers towards the success of this country cannot be denied, and yet there has been little attempt to grant a fair slice of the pie of economic progress to us.

We are experiencing a global phenomenon of rising food prices, which threatens to put a large number of people into a state of poverty. We see the level of real wages diminishing, despite increasing profits for businesses. We also see the trampling of basic human rights and the continuous undermining of the institution of trade unionism. It is unacceptable that this should be so despite the fact that the world is experiencing a period of unprecedented economic growth.

Where have we gone wrong? I firmly believe that this is the result of continuously neglecting all areas of social development, with the main and sometimes sole emphasis being the economic advancement of the minority who control the global economy.

The concept of the free market based on its original intent has failed. We do not live in a world where enterprising individuals can reap success through industry and hard work. We live in a world where neo-liberal globalisation has persistently dictated that monopolies and oligopolies control the global economy.

The state of affairs for workers and trade unions in this country can be described as unfortunate. For decades there had been in place a regime intent in suppressing dissent, and trade unions bore the brunt of the stifling of democratic rights. Workers have had a price to pay for this. The arrogance of the establishment can be illustrated by the recent passing of the amendments to the labour laws, which in many instances gives an absolute initiative to employers.

Labour laws: Demise of fundamental rights

Since the country attained independence in 1957, the government has continuously sought to cripple the trade union movement and the rights of workers. The right to strike exists in law, but in practice it is non-existent. A trade union cannot organise a strike once a dispute has been referred to the Industrial Court. The Human Resources Ministry could therefore frustrate and halt a planned or anticipated strike action by the stroke of a pen just as soon as a reference of the dispute to the Industrial Court is signed.

The same has been done a few months ago with the right to picket. Even a simple demonstration by workers expressing their dissatisfaction regarding abuses by employers during their off working hours in order to communicate it to the public to create an awareness and gain sympathy was curtailed. Again, the ever-powerful Human Resources Ministry can intervene and stop a lawful picketing action at their whims and fancies.

Trade union recognition, already an issue as a result of delays caused by the incompetence of the Human Resources Ministry, has been further complicated by the recent amendments.

What is most distressing is that the amendments were rushed through despite opposition from the MTUC. The country’s national labour centre was disregarded and insulted. By the same token, this amounts to a total disregard of the rights of the ordinary citizens of this country, where most of us work honestly just to eke out a decent living for ourselves and our families.

If the government is interested in listening to the voices of the people, it should now consider repealing the recent amendments to the labour legislation and invite the MTUC for a dialogue to discuss the way forward.

Competitive advantage conundrum and workers’ place in the equation

The race to the bottom in terms of safeguards for workers, the underprivileged of society and the poor is on and has grown to be global competition. In the name of maximisation of profits, assisted greatly by the unshackled trade liberalisation policies of international trade, all stops are pulled out to lower wages.

I am not going to argue against any global expansion of trade. I am going to insist though that any trade growth and economic expansion must benefit the workers of this world. What we have seen is a growth which has only benefited the owners of businesses thus increasing the income divide.

If this serious income divide issue is not solved, it would only create more social issues, which would then take decades to resolve.

In the name of competitive advantage of nations, the masses are being affected. Real income levels are falling and there are more people now who live in relative poverty.

At the level of the organisation, income disparity is widening in an extremely unfair proportion. The wage gulf has widened and more ingenious forms are being created to further develop this disparity. As an example, many enterprises have share schemes for their employees. Many of these schemes are restricted to the upper tiers, whilst in others the distribution is disproportionate and favours those in the higher echelons of the hierarchy.

It is morally wrong to deny the people of this country a minimum standard of living. Must we deny our nationals the minimum basics in life so that businesses can thrive and record huge profits?

Even in cases where hundreds of millions and even billions of ringgit are made in profits, businesses deny workers wage adjustments during collective agreement negotiations which would not amount to more than a few hundred ringgit per employee per month.

Workers of Malaysia, rise to the occasion!

It is now time for trade unions and workers at large to start voicing out issues without fear. We must be united in our efforts to make Malaysia a better place to live for all people – not just the minority who hold the economic and political power.

Let us be brave in coming out in droves to protest against any unjust treatment of our fellow workers and against the implementation of unjust laws. In our spirit of togetherness, we will find that our cries for just treatment will be heard loud and clear.

Hidup Pekerja! Hidup Pekerja! Hidup Pekerja!

Syed Shahir, president of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress, delivered this address on Labour Day, 1 May 2008.

By JANE RITIKOS

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government cannot introduce the minimum wage now as demanded by the Malaysian Trade Union Congress for fear that it will cause inflation, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

The Prime Minister said that it was not because the Government was uncaring but pointed out that the minimum wage was “something that had to be carefully assessed”.

New plan: Abdullah holding up the Malaysian Masterplan On Training and Working Skills Development at Stadium Putra Saturday. With him are Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam (second from left) and his deputy Datuk Noraini Ahmad. — Bernama

“I don’t know why they would want to use that approach as if we are not caring,” he said to a report that the MTUC would picket in Parliament on Wednesday to pressure the Government to implement its proposed RM900 minimum wage and RM300 cost of living allowance for workers.

Abdullah, however, stressed that the Economic Planning Unit was already considering MTUC’s request.

“We have no reason to delay it unnecessarily but this is an issue that has to be carefully thought out,” he said.

“ Not simply to say ‘okay, okay okay’ (to the request).

“We are not politicians making populist announcements,” he told reporters after attending the Workers’ Day celebration organised by the Human Resources Ministry.

Abdullah said that the Government also had to act responsibly in managing the economy and would only implement what was good and feasible.

“But if we have some doubts about introducing it now, naturally we cannot do it,” he said, adding that the Government also had to seek the views of other quarters on the matter and hoped the MTUC understood that.

“They can have a 100 demonstrations but if we can’t, we can’t.

“It is as simple as that. If we can, we give,” the Prime Minister said.

Abdullah said that he would certainly want the people to be happy and have higher wages but the Government had to be responsible to others too.

He pointed out that higher wages would also cause inflation and goods would be sold at higher prices.

“What is the meaning of giving additional pay if tomorrow we have to use our extra money to pay for higher priced goods?

“We need money for other things too.

“That’s my sincere feeling on this and I hope people will understand. That’s not the way to get things done,” he said.

Meanwhile at the celebration held at Stadium Putra, the Prime Minister also launched the Malaysian Masterplan On Training and Working Skills Development to provide a platform for capacity development by producing first-class human capital.

May 3, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia’s prime minister is not yet prepared to introduce a minimum monthly wage despite mounting pressure from trade unions amid inflationary fears, reports said Sunday.

The country’s top union chief on Thursday called for pay of at least 1,200 ringgit (379 dollars) to help workers cope with soaring food and fuel prices.

Malaysian Trades Union Congress president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said unionists would picket outside Parliament this Wednesday to pressure the Government to implement the plan.

But Priime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hit back Sunday.

“They can have 100 demonstrations but if we can’t, we can’t,” he told state news agency Bernama, referring to demands for the minimum wage.

“If it is good, of course we will do it. But if we have some doubt about introducing it now, we cannot do it. What is the meaning of giving additional pay if tomorrow we have to use our extra money to pay for higher priced goods?” he said.

Earlier this week, Abdullah said Malaysia could no longer rely on its cheap labour to attract investors and should focus instead on creating a higher quality and better educated local workforce to fight off regional competition.

However, soaring global oil and food prices have caused major inflationary pressures in the country while severely affecting the cost of living for lower-income groups.

Syed said using inflation was a poor reason for refusing the minimum wage.

“This is a weak argument. Are you saying that it doesn’t matter that people are suffering as long as it doesn’t affect inflation?” he told the Star daily.

“If they say higher salaries will cause inflation, what about last year when civil servants received a pay rise between 7.5 and 40 percent?” he was quoted as saying by the paper.

Radio Australia

Pressure is mounting on Malaysia’s prime minister to introduce a minimum monthly wage.

The country’s top union chief has called for the minimum wage to be set at $US379 to help workers cope with soaring food and fuel prices.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress president, Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, says unionists will picket outside parliament this Wednesday to pressure the Government to implement the plan.

Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is resisting the pressure, saying he still has doubts about introducing a minimum wage system in the current climate.

Malaysia is one of Asia’s largest importers of cheap foreign labour and has about 2.3 million workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh, India and elsewhere to clean homes, construct buildings and gather crops.

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia’s largest labour union staged a rally Wednesday outside Parliament to call for the introduction of a minimum wage to help low-paid workers cope with rising living costs.

Some 150 members of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress chanted “Long live workers'’ as they demanded a minimum wage of 900 ringgit (US$285; euro184) a month and an additional 300 ringgit (US$95; euro61) as a “cost of living allowance,'’ a benefit currently reserved for public sector workers.

“It’s very important. The cost of living is hiking up,'’ said MTUC Vice President Mustafar Maarof. “The people cannot cope.'’

The MTUC estimates that 40 percent of Malaysia’s nearly 10 million private-sector employees earn less than 700 ringgit (US$222; euro143) a month. Most work at plantations or factories.

It says plantation workers are among the worst paid, with some earning monthly salaries of less than 400 ringgit (US$126; euro81).

Last week, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi rejected calls for a minimum wage system, saying his government would need to study it amid inflationary pressure and a slowing economy.

Mustafar said the MTUC, which represents some 500,000 workers, was disappointed with the government’s stance but would not give up its campaign. The protesters delivered a statement to a member of Parliament and dispersed after 90 minutes.

Complaints over the rising cost of living contributed to the ruling coalition’s poor performance in March elections, when it lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 (ES) - The government should seriously consider the workers’ demand for minimum wages to be legislated in view of the rising costs of living including the rising price of staple foodstuff.

Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) information chief Mahfuz Omar said it was “unreasonable” for anyone to have a salary lower than the RM900 proposed by the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) especially in high profit sectors.

“Workers have to face increasing costs of living and it is unacceptable to oppress the working class at a time when even the price of rice is on the rise,” Mahfuz who is also Pokok Sena parliamentary member said.

He said this when met at the parliamentary lobby today. He was asked to comment on the move taken by some 200 MTUC leaders to hold a peaceful assembly at the parliament entrance here.

They were demanding for the legislation of a Minimum Wage Act, including RM900 minimum salary and a RM300 allowance for cost of living (COLA). In addition, they were also expressing their dissatisfaction with the amendments to the labour law during the last parliamentary sitting that they said eroded the rights of workers.

No excuse not to have Minimum Wage Act

Wangsa Maju parliamentary member (MP) Wee Chee Keong, Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan and Kota Damansara state assemblyman Dr. Nasir Hashim were among those present to lend moral support to the protesting workers.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said there should be no excuse for the government not to legislate the Minimum Wage Act.

He noted that most countries in the region had legislated the Act and the government’s move to increase the salary of civil servants twice in recent years did not cause adverse side effects to the country.

“The minimum wage (Act) is important to the workers in Malaysia,” he told journalists in a press conference at the parliamentary lobby after he handing in a memorandum to Parliamentary Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Ismail.

Syed Shahir said several parliamentary members from the ruling coalition had also expressed support for the Act but he did not name them . Pakatan Rakyat leaders were also supportive of the Act in particular former Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, and PAS treasurer Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli.

Syed Shahir said that MTUC had planned to hand the memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi after the premier failed to respond to a similar memorandum sent in 2007 but was told that Abdullah is currently out of the country.

Abdullah had earlier pre-empted the peaceful assembly by saying that the government simply could not afford to legislate the Minimum Wages Act which would trigger further inflation.- Saadon Aksah/ES

Wan Nordin Wan Yaacob

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Mei (Hrkh) - Kerajaan pimpinan Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi digesa agar melihat secara serius tuntutan gaji minimum yang dibuat oleh Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) dalam satu himpunan di hadapan Parlimen semalam.

Ketua Penerangan PAS, Mahfuz Omar dalam respon awalnya berkata, pihak berkuasa tidak boleh menghalang kelompok MTUC ini dari menyuarakan tuntutan mereka di Parlimen.

ImageIni kerana Parlimen adalah tempat dimana dewan tertinggi yang membincangkan semua hal mengenia polisi negara yang membabitkan kepentingan seluruh rakyat, katanya semasa ditemui di Parlimen bagi mengulas himpunan yang diadakan kira-kira 200 anggota MTUC di hadapan Parlimen semalam.

“Tuntutan MTUC wajar untuk dipertimbangkan dalam keadaan kos sara hidup meningkat.

“mereka tuntut gaji minima.Tak wajar kini ada orang yang bekerja Imagedalam sektor-sektor yang mempunyai saiz yang besar tiba-tiba mereka diberi gaji rendah bawah RM900

“Dan dalam masa sama pelabur-pelabur yang besar ini mengaut keuntungan hasil dari menggunakan tenaga kerja yang murah di kalangan pekerja tempatan,” kata Mahfuz.

Dalam keadaan mereka meraih untung besar itu, kelompok pekerja pula berhadapan dengan beban hidup yang meningkat yang terpaksa ditanggung, kata Mahfuz.

“Tak wajar bila kerajaan nak menyekat golongan ini dari mendapat Imagepembelaan sewajarnya di Dewan Rakyat yang akan disuarakan samada melalui kerajaan mahupun pembangkang, ” katanya.

Sementara itu Presiden MTUC, Syed Shahir Syed MOhamood yang mengulas mengenai memorandum tuntutan badan itu yang diserah kepada Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz Nazri berkata, menteri itu berjanji akan memberikan memorandum terbabit kepada Perdana Menteri, Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan anggota kabinet lain.

Memorandum serupa diserahkan kepada semua ahli Parlimen baik kerajaan mahu pun pembangkang, ujarnya.

Menurut Syed Shahir lagi, kandungan memorandum tersebut sama dengan yang diberikan kepada Perdana Menteri pada 18 Jun lalu.

Katanya, memorandum kedua itu dihantar kerana pihaknya tidak mendapat respons positif dari kerajaan mengenai tuntutan tersebut.

Menurut Syed Shahir di kalangan negara-negara Asean hanya Malaysia yang tidak mengamalkan pembayaran gaji minima.

Hujah bahawa pelaksanaan pembayaran gaji minima dan Cola akan menyebabkan kenaikan harga barangan adalah hujah yang dangkal, katanya.

Sedangkan katanya dalam hal ini bukan kerajaan yang membayar gaji sebaliknya majikan.

Menurutnya, ketika ini kira-kira 1.67 juta pekerja mendapat pendapatan bulanan kurang daripada RM700 sebulan (lebih rendah daripada paras kemiskinan iaitu RM900).

“Sama ada kami (MTUC) akan buat lagi atau tidak perhimpunan aman yang sama, ia bergantung kepada respons kerajaan. Ini bukan hobi tetapi merupakan satu tanggungjawab.

“Ini bukan mencari kepentingan politik tetapi satu komitmen kepada kaum pekerja di negara ini,” katanya lagi.

Kandungan memorandum tersebut turut membantah pindaan akta perhubungan dan akta kesatuan sekerja yang boleh menjejaskan kepentingan pekerja dan kesatuan sekerja.

THE MTUC staged a peaceful gathering outside Parliament before handing over a 14-page memorandum to the Prime Minister, calling for a RM900 minimum wage and provision of a RM300 cost of living allowance.

Its members gathered as early as 9am yesterday but were unable to hand the memorandum to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as he was overseas on official business.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, who met newsmen at the Parliament lobby later, said they would not stop until their goal was achieved.

He said the Government’s explanation that a RM900 minimum wage could not be met due to various reasons, including inflation, was unacceptable.

“This is a national issue that affects everyone, and the Government should not delay it any further,” he said.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz, who received the memorandum on Abdullah’s behalf, said he sympathised with MTUC’s plight and would hand over the document to the Prime Minister when he returned from Dubai.

“And I will ensure that this matter is brought up for discussion in the Cabinet later,” he said.

By SIM LEOI LEOI and PAUL CHOO (The Star)

KUALA LUMPUR: Hundreds of people stood in solidarity with the call by Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) for a RM900 minimum wage and provision of an RM300 Cost of Living Allowance outside Parliament on Wednesday.

The peaceful gathering sought to hand a 14-page memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi voicing their intent.

Supporters had gathered from as early as 9am, waving banners and posters as policemen and Light Strike Force officers monitored the situation.

Some jeered and chanted that the prices of goods had increased, and urged the Government to address the issues.

Several labour union heads also expressed their grievances before they were asked to disperse by the police at 11.30am.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud who led the assembly said they were unable to hand over the memorandum as Abdullah was overseas on official business.

Syed Shahrir, who met with pressmen in the Parliament lobby later, said that they would not stop until their intent has been met.

He said that the Government’s explanation that an RM900 minimum wage could not be met due to various reasons including inflation was unacceptable.

“This is a national issue that affects everyone, and the Government should not delay it any further.

“How can inflation be used as an excuse when in 2007, a 7.5% to 40% increase in civil servants salary had also been announced. Do we see any inflation now? This is a weak argument from the Government,” he said.

Syed said MTUC would continue diligently with their cause.

Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz, who received the memorandum on the Premier’s behalf, said he sympathised with MTUC’s plight.

“Because PM is in Dubai, I will personally hand over their memorandum to him when he gets back.

“And I will ensure that this matter is brought up for discussion in Cabinet later,” he said.

Asked if MTUC should not have resorted to a demonstration or picket to voice their grouses, Nazri said the union should not be blamed.

“This is because previously, they found it hard to voice their grouses. But now that they have successfully handed over the memorandum, they will use less confrontational means,” he said.

SHAH ALAM, May 4 (Bernama) – The five Pakatan Rakyat-led state governments have agreed to extend the 60-day paid maternity leave for public sector employees in their states, and are to work out the number of additional days according to the needs and demands in each state.

The new leave will only be implemented after the leaders of the five states — Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Penang and Kedah — sit down together to fine-tune the needs and demands in each state.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin asked to be allowed time to fine-tune the matter at state level “and then we will sit down together and decide what’s best for the five states”.

He spoke at a news conference after a workers assembly here Sunday. Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim; Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin; PAS Vice-President Datuk Husam Musa who represented the Kelantan menteri besar; Kedah Rural Development, Entrepreneur Development and Public Works Committee chairman Phahrolrazi Zawawi who represented the Kedah menteri besar and Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud.

Women employees in the public sector are now entitled to 60 days of paid maternity leave for a maximum of five times.

Mohammad Fairus said the Penang government was considering extending the leave up to 75 days by taking into account locality and the people’s acceptance in the state.

Abdul Khalid said the Selangor government planned to implement a 90-day maternity leave and between seven and 10 days additional leave for men whose wives were on maternity leave.

“The state government, MTUC, public and private sector workers’ organisations or Cuepacs have to hold further discussions so that no one will lose out when the facility is implemented,” he said.

Husam said the Kelantan government proposed to give 10 days of additional leave prior to delivery to women who found it difficult to work in an advanced state of pregnancy.

Mohammad Nizar said the Perak government was compiling data to determine whether it was possible to extend the maternity leave to 65 or 70 days.

Phahrolrazi said the Kedah government might adopt the measures to be implemented by the Kelantan government in the matter.

– BERNAMA

Muda Mohd Noor | May 7, 08 (Malaysiakini)

Some 100 unionists gathered at Parliament gate this morning in support of Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) leaders who were there to hand a memorandum on their demand for minimum wage.

mtuc parliament protest 070508 05The crowd gathered for two hours under the watchful eyes of the police before dispersing peacefully on their own after the memorandum had been submitted.

Several Pakatan Rakyat MPs took time out from the Parliament sitting and came to support the MTUC’s demand for RM900 minimum wage and RM300 cost-of-living allowances (Cola).

Amtuc parliament protest 070508 02ccording to MTUC president Syed Shahrir Syed Mahmud, the memorandum was handed over to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz and Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Syed Shahrir said that Nazri promised to hand the memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and other members of the cabinet.

“The memorandum was also distributed to all MPs regardless of their political leanings,” he said.

No response

He said the memorandum was the same as the one submitted to Abdullah in June last year.

Syed Shahrir said that a second memorandum was submitted because there was no response from the government regarding their claims.

“Among Asean countries, only Malaysia does not have a minimum wage policy, while others do,” he said.

He said that the government’s excuse of not having a minimum wage policy and an equitable Cola policy to prevent inflation was lame one.

Elaborating, he said it was the employers and not the government that was footing a higher salary.

He said that at present, 1.67 million workers are making less than RM700 a month which is lower than the poverty rate of RM900.

More protests

Syed Shahrir stressed that the gathering outside Parliament house was not a picket but a gathering of unionists who were keen on knowing first hand the government’s attitude towards the working class. mtuc parliament protest 070508 10

“Whether MTUC will hold more of such gatherings depends on the government’s response. This (holding protests) is not a hobby but a responsibility.

“We’re not out to score political points. We’re out to fulfil our commitment to the workers of this country,” he added.

Among others, the memorandum also opposed amendments to the Industrial Relations Act and the Trade Union Act which MTUC claims are detrimental to workers.

mtuc parliament protest 070508 11The memorandum also states MTUC’s eagerness to hold discussions with the prime minister regarding issues affecting workers.

Since taking over as prime minister in 2003, Abdullah has never dialogued with MTUC which is the largest umbrella body for trade unions.

Malaysiakini

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has shot down the Malaysian Trade Union Congress’ (MTUC) demands that the government implement a RM1,200 minimum wage policy.

Commenting on MTUC’s plans to hold a protest in front of Parliament house on Wednesday over the matter, the prime minister cited inflation and limited government funds for rejecting the suggestion.

“They can have 100 demonstrations but if we can’t, we can’t… as simple as that. If we can give, we give. I would like to make the people happy if I can by giving more money but if we can’t, we can’t,” said Abdullah in a Bernama report.

The premier was speaking to reporters after attending the official Workers Day Gathering 2008 at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.

Cause inflation

Abdullah said the decision to reject MTUC’s demands was difficult as the government was responsible for taking care of the country’s economy.

“I don’t know why this approach (demonstration) is being used. It is as though we don’t care about the people. It’s not easy for us to make a decision.

“What could be done immediately and if it is good, of course we will do it. But if we have some doubts about introducing it now, we cannot do it.

“I have to be responsible to the others, and you know this is inflationary. When there is an increase in pay, the price (of goods) will go up. What is the meaning if giving additional pay when tomorrow you have to pay more for the products you need?” he asked.

The premier advised MTUC to hold further discussions on the issue with other stakeholders.

Saidah Hairan

SHAH ALAM, 4 Mei (Hrkh) - Lima buah negeri yang dikuasai Pakatan Rakyat bertekad akan membangunkan kesejahteraan kaum pekerja dengan membawa arus perubahan dan menjana pembangunan supaya para pekerja dapat menikmati proses pendemokrasian tulen.

ImagePemerintah dan majikan perlu adil dan telus dalam melaksanakan kewajipan sosial masing-masing tanpa menabur sebarang janji-janji kosong kepada para pekerja kerana ia akan menambahkan ketidakpercayaan pekerja terhadap majikan berkenaan.

Tiga Menteri Besar dan dua Timbalan Menteri Besar telah bersepakat untuk menaikkan martabat para pekerja yang didiskriminasi selama 50 tahun sejak BN memerintah negara.

Kesepakatan itu dilaungkan dalam perhimpunan Pekerja 2008 dan Wacana Kebangsaan ke-3 `Memperkasakan Kaum Pekerja’ yang diadakan di Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam, pagi tadi.

Menteri Besar yang hadir, Tan Sri Abd Khalid Ibrahim (Selangor); Dato Seri Ir Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (Perak); Exco Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan; Dato’ Paduka Husam Musa; Timbalan Menteri Besar Pulau Pinang, Mohd Fairus Khairuddin dan Exco negeri Kedah, IR Fakhrul Rozi.

ImageTurut hadir Naib Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu; Exco kerajaan negeri Selangor, Dr Halimah Ali; Ahli Parlimen Kota Raja, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmood dan Presiden MTUC, Syed Shahir Syed Mohamad.

Dalam ucapan Tan Sri Khalid,beliau menjelaskan bahawa kerajaan Selangor sedang merancang melaksanakan cuti bersalin selama 90 hari bagi pekerja wanita disamping cuti tambahan bagi suami tidak lebih 10 hari.

Berhubung dengan gaji minimum katanya, kerajaan negeri sedang mengkaji supaya pekerja yang sudah bertugas lebih lima tahun dibayar gaji tidak kurang RM1500 sebulan dan dasar baru akan dilaksanakan iaitu pekerja perlu mendapat gaji permulaan RM1500 sebulan.

Menurut beliau,ini berikutan pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat Selangor menyedari rakyat tidak cukup dengan jumlah gaji minimum sebulan untuk menampung kehidupan dalam senario harga barangan melambung naik.

ImageDalam program tersebut di sebelah petang turut diadakan dialog antara Pengerusi Lajnah Pekerja dan Peneroka Bandar PAS, Mohd Anuar Tahir dan Syed Shahir.

Dailog tersebut mendapat sambutan membanggakan di kalangan peserta yang hadir dan kebanyakan mereka meminta kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat sepakat untuk membela nasib pekerja bawahan yang tertindas selama berada di bawah pemerintahan BN.

Program ditutup dengan ucapan Mursyidul Am PAS, Tuan Guru Dato’ Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat merangkap Menteri Besar Kelantan. - mks.

The Star, 2 May 2008

SHAH ALAM: MTUC leaders will visit Parliament on Monday to seek MPs’ support for their RM900 minimum wage demand.

Its secretary-general G. Rajasekaran said the congress was already assured of support from Pakatan Rakyat MPs and would try to get as many Barisan Nasional members as it could to support the demand.

He said MTUC decided on the move after failing to get a response from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, following a memorandum on the matter sent to him in February.

Nice to meet you: Khalid shaking hands with foreign workers who took part in the Labour Day celebration organised by MTUC at Dataran Kemerdekaan in Shah Alam Thursday.

“We have not even received an acknowledgement from the Prime Minister’s office that they received the memorandum,” Rajasekaran said in his speech at the Labour Day gathering, which was attended by about 3,000 people, at Dataran Kemerdekaan here yesterday.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said the call for better wages was made in view of the burden many low-wage earners faced because of the rising cost of living.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the state would start discussions with companies soon on how to implement the minimum wage scheme for workers.

A rally, organised by Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) or Oppressed People’s Network, was held in Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, where several hundred people held up banners calling for a minimum wage to be implemented. Other non-governmental organisations were present to give support.

There were other rallies in other cities as well.

Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman said the May Satu gathering at Dataran Merdeka was illegal, as its organisers did not have a police permit.

He said police had to move in to disperse the crowd that had gathered at 9.30am.

“We only received a letter from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) pro tem secretary-general S. Arutchelvan early yesterday morning requesting permission to hold the gathering, which we cannot entertain,” he said.

Meanwhile, MTUC Sarawak wants the Government to improve the well-being of private sector workers through better wages and to ensure their fundamental rights are protected.

KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Financial) - Malaysia’s top union chief on Thursday called for a minimum wage of 1,200 ringgit ($375) to help workers cope with soaring food and fuel prices.

Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, president of the Malaysian Trade Union Congress, said millions of workers struggled on a monthly income of less than 700 ringgit.

‘I cannot imagine how they survive with that meagre income and afford a decent life, especially for those living in industrial areas. This is the number one issue that workers are facing now,’ Syed told Agence-France Presse after addressing a May Day rally in Selangor state.

Syed said employers’ excuses that higher wages would increase operating costs and hit the competitiveness of Malaysian goods were outdated.

‘Our workers should be trained and better their skills and taught to operate machinery. This will cut the country’s dependence on cheap foreign labour,’ he said.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in his May Day message, urged workers to be more innovative and creative to ensure the country remains competitive.

He said Malaysia could no longer rely on its cheap labour to attract investors and should focus instead on creating a higher quality and better educated workforce in the face of increasing regional competition.

‘In the era of a knowledge-based economy, the ability to generate, spread and apply knowledge is crucial to determine the nation’s productivity and competitiveness,’ he said in the statement.

‘Malaysia can no longer depend on cheap labour costs. Skills and knowledge have become an important prerequisite in increasing one’s wages in today’s economy,’ he said.

The economy is going through a transition phase as it seeks to shift from a low-wage model to a high-wage, knowledge-based economy.

Malaysia is one of Asia’s largest importers of cheap foreign labour and has about 2.3 million workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh, India and elsewhere to clean homes, construct buildings and gather crops.

The government has said it plans to cut its reliance on foreign labour to create more job opportunities for unemployed local people.

afp/ms

Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.

Star Online 18 Apr 2008

By SIM LEOI LEOI

PUTRAJAYA: The Government has agreed to five of the six demands by Cuepacs, including extending the retirement age for civil servants from 56 years to 60, and the scrapping of the efficiency level assessment (PTK) examination.

However, there will be no RM2,000 honorarium payment in lieu of bonuses for last year.

Cuepacs president Omar Osman said that in a 45-minute meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at his office here yesterday, the Government had agreed to all its demands except the honorarium.

“The Prime Minister explained that should the Government give out the honorarium, it may spur another round of price increases, like what happened last year when we received our salary revision.

“We agreed that we should sacrifice this demand as we also don’t want certain parties to take advantage by increasing the prices of goods,” he said, adding that Cuepacs was mindful that prices of certain goods such as flour, bread and rice had also been increasing recently.

However, Omar said the Government had agreed to the other demands – the extension of the retirement age, reinstatement of critical and housing allowances, pension payment to be based on one’s actual years of service and the scrapping of the PTK exam.

“The Prime Minister will make the announcement soon,” he said, describing the outcome of the meeting as “positive”.

“Cuepacs is relieved the Government has agreed to all of the above,” he said, adding that the Public Service Department (PSD) would brief Cuepacs today on the new method of evaluation for PTK.

The PTK, which has become a bone of contention among the 1.2 million civil servants, was introduced in 2002 when the Malaysian Remuneration System replaced the New Remuneration System.

Passing the PTK exam was used as a basis for promotion in the civil service.

Besides Cuepacs and Abdullah, others present at the meeting included Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, PSD director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam and Finance Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Wan Abd Aziz Wan Abdullah.

Asked if this meant that Cuepacs would not be boycotting the Workers Day event on May 3, Omar said the main exco of the civil servants umbrella group was happy with the results of the meeting.

“However, we still have to bring the matter of boycotting the event to our members to decide tomorrow afternoon (today),” he said.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) felt that the extension of the civil servants’ retirement age to 60 should have been implemented much earlier.

Its president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said this had been MTUC’s request for more than two years.

He said Abdullah “was not sensitive enough to MTUC’s requests” previously.

“If we compare ourselves to our neighbouring countries such as Singapore, India, the Philippines and others, we are in fact behind them in this aspect.

“The retirement ages in these countries are from 60 to 65, and we are only now extending it to 60,” he said.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said the union was pleased that the Government had agreed to five of the six demands by Cuepacs.

“There is a lot of good news for teachers such as the extension of the retirement age,” she said.

Lok, who also attended the meeting with the Prime Minister, said she would be able to brief members after she attended the PSD briefing on the PTK evaluation.

The Star Online

PUTRAJAYA: The Government wants to do away with foreign workers as their numbers – both legal and illegal – have reached three million.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said he would seek the cooperation of the Human Resources Ministry to find ways to reduce the demand for foreign workers.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the Immigration Department here yesterday, he said the move would also ensure that there would be no unemployment among Malaysians.
Getting feedback: Hamid speaking with some members of the public during his visit to the Immigration Department in Putrajaya yesterday.

He said cooperation from employers was most important as they created the demand for foreign workers and this had also caused illegal foreigners to enter the country in droves.

“We want to see the demand for foreigners totally scrapped, that is our aim. We need cooperation from those who are seeking workers.

“We need a collective and planned effort from all quarters including the Human Resources Ministry to ensure that we depend only on our own citizens,” he said, adding that illegal foreign workers were one of the biggest problems the ministry was facing.

When asked for more attractive perks and benefits for locals to take up jobs that were now dominated by foreigners, he said for an unemployed Malaysian any job would be attractive.

In PETALING JAYA, the Malaysian Employers Federation and Malaysian Trades Union Congress said that the Government must have a clear policy on migrant workers and not act on an ad hoc basis.

MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said he was not against the move to scrap dependence on foreign workers but it must be planned properly.

“We don’t want to have a knee-jerk reaction and be caught off-guard. This could affect productivity,” he said.

“The cause of the high influx of illegals should not be confused with employers’ demand for documented workers. It’s partly because the Government has been too lenient,” he said.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said the organisation was not against hiring migrant workers but also said the Government must have a clear policy on why they were brought in.

The Star Online

SHAH ALAM: About 300 employees of a plastic manufacturing factory in Section 15 here were shocked when they went to work in the morning but found themselves locked out of the premises yesterday.

“We also found a notice of liquidation pasted on the factory gate,” said supervisor M. Thanapal, adding that the owners of the family-run business had not told the workers about the closure.

He said the factory’s in-house union had a meeting with the management two weeks ago and was not told about the liquidation order.

“They informed us that the company was facing financial problems and told us that we would all struggle together to overcome the problem. The management also promised to give us a month’s notice if the company faced closure,” said Thanapal.

The factory’s 200 Malaysian employees and about a hundred foreign workers decided to picket outside the premises yesterday.

Also at the picket were MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, secretary-general G. Rajasekaran and deputy secretary-general Abdul Halim Mansor.

Abdul Halim said the factory’s foreign workers found themselves in a quandary as their passports were held by the company’s officials. They are also likely to lose their accommodation benefit.

“So we have put up a tent in front of the factory for the foreign workers to stay in the event they have nowhere to go,” said Halim.

He added that the MTUC would help the employees file a complaint with the Industrial Relations and Labour Departments.

Newly-elected Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad was also present.

Kerani Felda
Fri | Apr 04, 08 | 12:08:58 pm MYT

Akhir-akhir ini, kejayaan Felda dalam meningkatkan taraf hidup sebahagian rakyat sering digembar-gemburkan. Tetapi sedarkah para pembaca sekalian bahawa ada kalangan pekerja-pekerja Felda yang seakan-akan dianaktirikan?

Sebagai contoh, gaji kakitangan bukan eksekutif seperti penyelia dan kerani berada di bawah paras kemiskinan, dengan gaji pokok RM700 sebulan tanpa elaun seperti Cola dan perumahan.

Nama Felda kononnya ke taraf global tetapi rakyat tidak tahu penderitaan kakitangan bawahannya. Malah kakitangan syarikat Felda terpaksa tinggal di kawasan pedalaman.

Sebenarnya pendapatan Felda banyak. Sebagai contoh, salah sebuah anak syarikat Felda iaitu Felda Plantations Sdn Bhd memperolehi keuntungan lebih RM1 bilion pada 2007 kerana harga komoditi sawit melebihi RM600 setan.

Bagaimanapun kakitangan Felda Plantations adalah di antara yang tersikit mendapat bonus tahunan. Tahun lepas ada kakitangan yang dapat hanya sebulan sahaja. Sedangkan syarikat lain walaupun punyai keluasan ladang 6,000 ekar mampu membayar bonus yang lebih tinggi.

Wang kumpulan Felda telah dibelanjakan secara boros sejak Felda diletakkan di bawah penguasaan politik, iaitu di bawah Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Dato’ Seri Najib Razak. Pengerusi Felda kini ialah Tan Sri Dr Yusof Noor manakala Pengarah Urusan Felda Holding ialah Dato’ Mohamad Bakke Salleh yang baru dua tahun dilantik.

Penindasan paling terkini adalah kadar kenaikan gaji tahunan pada Januari 2008. Ada kakitangan yang hanya dinaikkan gaji sebanyak RM40 sedangkan pegawai atasan yang bergaji melebihi RM10,000 menerima kenaikan gaji pelarasan sehingga 25 peratus.

Untuk makluman, gaji penyelia dan kerani di semua anak syarikat Felda seperti Felda Plantations, Felda Agricultural, Felda Technoplant dan lain-lain adalah di bawah paras kemiskinan iaitu RM700 sebulan, sedangkan gaji pekerja asing daripada Indonesia dan Bangladesh telah dinaikkan sehingga ada yang melebihi RM1,000 sebulan.

Inilah yang dicanang oleh Najib ke seluruh negara bahawa Felda telah mencapai tahap dunia.

Tidak lama lagi menara Felda setinggi 50 tingkat akan mula dibina berhampiran menara berkembar Petronas. Semakin kempislah tabung Felda.

Nasib yang dialami para pekerja Felda ini telah dibawa ke pengetahuan Najib sama ada melalui kesatuan mahupun saluran lain. Namun tidak di endahkan.

Mungkin beliau memikirkan undi kakitangan kumpulan Felda berjumlah lebih 10,000 orang tidak penting berbanding lebih 100,000 orang peneroka di seluruh negara.

Saya berharap Pakatan Rakyat dapat memperjuangkan nasib kakitangan bukan eksekutif Felda dan anak syarikatnya di Dewan Rakyat.

June Ramli (NST)

KUALA LUMPUR: A tough fight is brewing in the Pandan parliamentary constituency with two well-known personalities preparing to battle it out for the popular vote.

Barisan Nasional incumbent, Datuk Ong Tee Keat will face Malaysian Trades Union Congress president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud who is going in on a Parti Keadilan Rakyat ticket.

Ong, cautiously optimistic about his chances, said he would not underestimate his opponent.

“We have to work hard as it is going to be tough. We will continue with the hard work we have been putting in all this while,” he said when asked about his chances.

He was speaking after submitting his nomination papers to Ampang Jaya Municipal Council officer Abdul Hamid Hussain at the MPAJ hall yesterday.
Syed Shahir is optimistic of winning the hearts of voters despite failing to secure the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat in the 2004 elections.

“We are confident of a win this time because of the sentiments of the people following the recent events in the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, the contest for the Teratai state seat will see incumbent Datuk Lum Weng Keng of Gerakan going up against the DAP’s Lee Ying Ha.

In the Cempaka state constituency, the Barisan Nasional’s Norsimah Hashim is being fielded against Pas’ Iskandar Abd Samad.

Lum conceded that it would be a tough fight against the 28-year-old Lee, saying that he had a 50-50 chance of victory.

Lee, on the other hand, is determined to ensure a win for DAP in the Ampang area.

Iskandar, who failed in two outings in the constituency since the 1999 general election, is confident of winning this time around.

By : M. K. Megan & V. Anbalagan

Nurul Izzah Anwar, daughter of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will contest the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat in a bold bid to unseat BN stalwart and deputy Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil.
Interestingly, PKR will also field Loh Gwo Burne, the man who shot to fame by filming the alleged Lingam video clip, in the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat. Gwo Burne will take on MCA’s Datuk Lee Hwa Beng.

“Gwo is a professional and possess a masters degree and experiences in business and law and when he wanted to contest there was excitement in Kelana Jaya,” said PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali as he announced the party’s candidates list.

Syed Husin said Anwar and his wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan ismail did not want Nurul Izzah to contest but relented after much persistence from the grassroots.

Another name to look out for is Malaysian Trades Union Congress president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud who will contest the Pandan parliamentary constituency.
PKR’s election director Mohamed Azmin Ali will be contesting the Gombak parliamentary constituency.

In another surprising move, Malaysian Democratic Party secretary-general Wee Choo Keong will contest the March 8 polls under a PKR ticket at the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat, pitting against long time MCA rival Datuk Dr Lee Choon Meng.

Wee’s inclusion was to avoid a three-cornered fight in the Bukit Bintang parliamentary seat. Known for his critical views of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it was a surprise yesterday when PKR picked the former DAP MP, now leader of the Malaysian Democratic Party, a DAP splinter party.

“In the name of unity and to avoid a three-cornered fight in Bukit Bintang, we came to a compromise that Wee contest in Wangsa Maju under the PKR ticket,” Syed Husin said.

Wee is the second candidate from another party contesting a PKR ticket. The other is Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s Dr Michael Jeyakumar, who will challenge MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu in Sungai Siput.

PKR election director Azmin Ali at the party’s headquarters. Azmin will contest the Gombak parliamentary seat.

Meanwhile, Gwo Burne’s father, Loh Mui Fah, who was also a witness in the recently concluded Lingam video clip inquiry, will vie for a parliamentary seat in the Klang Valley.

“The seat that I will contest will be finalised by tomorrow but it will definitely be under the DAP or PKR ticket,” said the 58-year-old businessman.

Loh and his son are not members of any political party prior to their decision to offer themselves as candidates.

Mui Fah said he and Gwo Burne decided to contest following calls from opposition leaders over the past one week.

“We did not plan earlier nor use the publicity generated from the inquiry to contest,” he said.

Gwo Burne, 34, a consultant, said he was to have left for China soon after Chinese New Year celebrations but could not resist the call to offer himself in the electoral battle.

“I am offering myself to the voters as a choice. It is for them to decide,” he said.

The father and son said their campaign would touch on corruption, the current state of the judiciary, lack of Ministerial responsibility , urban poverty, the rising cost of living and crime rate.

Oleh Utusan Malaysia

Jumaat, 08 Februari 2008

Kuala Lumpur: Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn. Bhd. (RapidKL) mengambil tindakan tegas dengan memecat 10 pemandu bas syarikat itu yang didakwa menjadi dalang mogok di depoh syarikat itu di Shah Alam, Ahad lepas.

Ketua Pegawai Operasi RapidKL (Bahagian Bas), Mohd. Ali Mohd. Nor berkata, hasil siasatan pihaknya mendapati dalang punca mogok tersebut dilakukan oleh 10 pemandu bas syarikat berkenaan.

“Mereka yang terbabit itu telah dibuang kerja kerana telah menghalang pemandu lain daripada bekerja pada Ahad lepas dan menghasut rakan-rakannya untuk turut sama mogok,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas tindakan RapidKL untuk menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi oleh pemandu bas syarikat berkenaan yang melancarkan mogok tersebut.

Kesemua 200 pemandu terbabit berkumpul secara aman di hadapan pejabat pengurusan syarikat itu kerana tidak berpuas hati mengenai soal gaji dan pembayaran bonus.

Mogok itu telah melumpuhkan perkhidmatan pengangkutan awam di Lembah Klang dan kawasan sekitarnya lebih tiga jam.

By DEVID RAJAH

PETALING JAYA: MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud will contest a parliamentary seat in Selangor to continue the legacy of past union leaders who represented the workers in Parliament.

Speculation is rife that Syed Shahir will contest either in the Kelana Jaya or Shah Alam parliamentary constituency.

Syed Shahir, 56, confirmed that he would be contesting under a PKR ticket but declined to reveal where he would be standing.

“I have contested in the past and I will continue to do so to represent and safeguard workers’ rights in Parliament,” said Syed Shahir, a former teacher and Bachelor of Business Administration degree holder.

He said although he would be contesting under a PKR ticket, his priority was to fight for all categories of workers, including those serving as executives or holding middle management posts.

“Workers must realise that their current job security is being threatened due to rapid globalisation and if policymakers don’t provide a safety net, they will face a host of problems,” said Syed Shahir who represents Malaysia in the International Labour Organisation’s governing body and is president of Asean Trade Union Council.

Syed Shahir, who defeated the former MTUC president Zainal Rampak for the post, is not a novice to politics. He contested and lost a state seat in Pahang at the age of 22 under the former Parti Sosial Rakyat Malaysia ticket.

A member of Parti Rakyat Malaysia until the merger with Parti Keadilan Nasional (now PKR) in 2003, Syed Shahir again contested and lost the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat in 2004, under the Keadilan ticket.

Syed Shahir, who has his own blogsite (http://syedshahir.blogsome.com), believes his party affiliation was not something unusual among union leaders or members.

Salman Hussin

PASIR GUDANG, 2 Feb (Hrkh) - Kira-kira 200 bekas pekerja kilang KIG Glass Industrial Berhad, di sini, merayu Jabatan Insolvensi Malaysia, yang mengambil alih semua kepentingan dan aset kilang tersebut sejak diistyiharkan bankrap beberapa tahun lalu, menyelesaikan segera pampasan pekerja terbabit yang masih tidak selesai sehingga hari ini.
Bekas pekerja kilang yang kesemuanya rakyat tempatan ini menghadapi berbagai masalah berikutan penutupan kilang ini pada 2006 lalu, selain hilang punca pendapatan, mereka yang kebanyakannya sudah bekerja lebih 10 tahun ini terpaksa berhadapan dengan masalah hutang dan kesukaran mencari sumber pendapatan bagi menyara keluarga.

“Faktor umur menyebabkan kami sukar mendapat kerja lain, kalau pun dapat kerja di tempat baru, gajinya pula sudah tentu kecil, pendapatan yang kecil ini menimbulkan masalah untuk menyara keluarga, kata wakil pekerja terbabit, Razali Saad.

Katanya, sebelum kilang ini diisytihar bankrap pada 2006, syarikat ini sudah mula menghadapi masalah kewangan sejak 2003 lagi, pekerja hanya dibayar gaji dua hingga tiga bulan sekali, itu pun cuma RM100 bagi operator dan RM500 bagi eksekutif.

“Ketika saham terbesar syarikat ini dimiliki seorang usahawan dari Indonesia, masalah gaji pekerja langsung tidak pernah berlaku, begitu juga jualan produk kilang ini yang berupa barangan kaca, sama ada untuk pasaran tempatan atau eksport, terus berjalan lancar tanpa sebarang masalah,” katanya.

Sebaliknya menurut Razali, kegawatan keewangan syarikat termasuk hutang dianggarkan beratus juta ringgit dengan institusi-institusi kewangan dan juga pembayaran gaji pekerja mula berlaku sejak PNB, Amanah Raya dan ECM Libra, melabur dalam syarikat ini, katanya selepas membuat laporan polis, di sini.

Beliau bersama lebih seratus bekas pekerja kilang terbabit bertindak membuat laporan polis setelah kecewa tuntutan yang telah mereka kemukakan sejak 2005 kepada Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Johor Bahru, Menteri Sumber Manusia, MTUC serta keputusan Mahkamah Buruh, masih tiada sebarang tindakan atau keputusan muktamad, menyebabkan isu ini terus berlanjutan sehingga hari ini.

Bekas pekerja kilang terbabit antara lain menuntut pampasan Gaji Ganti Notis dan Faedah Penamatan Kerja, yang mana dianggarkan setiap pekerja berhak mendapat ganti rugi sekitar RM20,000 seorang.

Katanya, Walaupun sudah ada keputusan daripada Mahkamah Buruh Johor Bahru, terhadap tuntutan mereka, namun perintah mahkamah ini gagal dilaksanakan, arahan untuk membayar tuntutan mereka yang dikeluarkan mahkamah tersebut tidak diendahkan sama sekali.

“Selaku rakyat negara ini kami merasa amat kecewa apabila permasalahan membabitkan kebajikan kami seolah-olah dinafikan dari sudut perundangan sedia ada, ataupun mungkin perkara ini berlaku disebabkan pihak berkuasa yang diamanahkan rakyat untuk membela kebajikan dan keadilan negara tidak berperanan dengan sewajarnya.

“Kami juga hairan kenapa tindakan sewajarnya tidak dapat dilakukan kerajaan bagi menyelesaikan masalah membabitkan golongan pekerja melalui peruntukkan undang-undang yang ada, kegagalan ini boleh menimbulkan persepsi negatif atau keraguan rakyat terhadap kredibiliti kerajaan yang ada hari ini,” katanya.

Sehubungan itu menurut Razali, walaupun syarikat ini sudah bankrap dan segala urusan syarikat ini telah diambil alih oleh Jabatan Insolvensi, namun mereka amat mengharapkan campur tangan kerajaan bagi menyegerakan pembayaran wang pampasan tersebut.

“Kami harap kerajaan segera campur tangan bagi menyelesaikan kemelut ini, kami sudah begitu lama menderita, sampai bila kami harus menunggu dan menunggu,” ujarnya lagi. - mns