MTUC calls on Cabinet Ministers to take pay cut if economy worsens
By : Audrey Dermawan
GEORGE TOWN, Fri: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress has proposed that all Cabinet ministers take a pay cut if the economic situation in the country warranted it.
To start the ball rolling, MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said companies which intend to lay off their workers, should first have the salaries of their bosses, including that of their chief executive officers, general managers and directors slashed.
Even the Penang state government has indicated that it would consider the proposal if the situation warrants.
Syed Syahir, however, did not specify the quantum to be deducted.
He said workers should not be the only ones victimised following the current global economic slowdown.
“All ministers and bosses should walk the talk and jointly share in the workers’ burden. This is only fair,” he told reporters after a meeting between MTUC and deputy chief minister Professor P. Ramasamy here yesterday.
It was the first official meeting between MTUC and the state government.
It was reported late last year that ministers and top civil servants in Singapore were subjected to a pay cut of up to 19 per cent this year in view of the clouded economic outlook.
Syed Shahir said from October, last year, to January, this year, MTUC has received reports of some 13,000 people, mainly from the manufacturing sector, retrenched nationwide.
Asked if there were more retrenchments in the state, Ramasamy said he has received news of some 600 foreign workers laid off at a factory in Bayan Lepas recently. It is learnt that the workers are from Globetronics Technology Bhd.
Ramasamy was, however, quick to point out that the situation in the state was still under control and that the state government was monitoring it.
Syed Shahir also expressed the hope that the federal government would expedite the implementation of the retrenchment fund.
“We have been advocating for the fund for the last 10 years but until now it has yet to be implemented. We hope the government will seriously look into this,” he added.
The taxpayers can’t afford to pay the salary and upkeep of so many HP6 Ministers and Deputy Ministers, more so in these difficult times.
Please sack a several of them. For the job of apple polishers we can hire a bunch of foreign labourers for a fraction of their price.
Comment by Hir Toyol — February 15, 2009 @ 2:21 pm