the blogging syed shahir

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.

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.

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.

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

Muda Mohd Noor (Malaysiakini)

Kira-kira 120 pemandu bas Rangkaian Pengangkutan Intergrasi Deras Pulau Pinang (Rapid Penang) masih meneruskan mogok untuk hari ketiga berturut-turut berhubung isu tuntutan kenaikan gaji.

Berikutan itu, lebih 300,000 pengguna terkandas sejak tiga hari lalu, terutama di sekitar Georgetown dan Butterworth.

Kordinator Kumpulan Pengguna Bas Pulau Pinang, B K Ong, berkata sehingga ini tiada tanda-tanda mogok tersebut akan berakhir.

“Tiada satupun bas Rapid Penang kelihatan di atas jalanraya di seluruh Georgetown dan Butterworth. Bas-bas tersebut disimpan di terminal bas Sungai Nibong.

rapid kl bus public transportation 021107″Pemandu-pemandu juga tidak kelihatan di kawasan terminal tersebut, tetapi saya difahamkan pihak pengurusan Rapid Penang berunding dengan wakil pemandu tersebut.

“Seorang pengarah Rapid Penang, Ong Tian Lai masih berunding dengan wakil pemandu bas tetapi hasilnya belum diketahui,” katanya ketika dihubungi hari ini.

Ong berkata, tinjauan beliau ke Stesen Bas Komtar dan beberapa stesen lain mendapati tiada sebuah bas Rapid Penang di kawasan tersebut.

Penumpang merungut

Katanya, ketiadaan Rapid Penang menyukarkan orang ramai terutama kaum Cina yang sedang persiapan menyambut Tahun Baru Cina, esok.

Beliau berkata, kaum Cina merungut kerana mereka sukar untuk ke pusat bandar bagi memberi barangan keperluan menjelang perayaan Tahun Baru Cina.

“Ramai yang merungut kerana tidak di maklumkan tentang mogok tersebut terlebih dahulu bagi membolehkan mereka membuat persiapan alternatif,” katanya lagi.

Pihak pengurusan Rapid Penang yang dihubungi, bagaimanapun, enggan mengulas perkara tersebut melainkan rundingan masih berjalan.

Sementara itu, mogok pemandu bas Rapid KL di sekitar Lembah Kelang telah berakhir apabila 200 pemandu kembali bekerja pagi semalam.

Kelmarin, pemandu terbabit dilaporkan melancarkan mogok kerana tidak berpuas hati terhadap pengurusan syarikat itu berhubung soal gaji serta pembayaran bonus. Mereka berhimpun di hadapan pejabat pentadbiran di Depoh Rapid KL, Seksyen 25 di Shah Alam.

Berikutan itu, ribuan pengguna pengangkutan awam itu terkandas, malah ada antara mereka lewat ke tempat kerja.

Presiden

1 Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud (NUTEAIW)* 278

2 Mohamed Shafie BP Mammal (NUTE) 235

Timb. Presiden

1 Mohd Khalid Hj Atan (TEU) 301

2 P. Maniam (EIWU)* 214

Setiausaha Agung

1 Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (CLUB)* 255

2 G. Rajasegaran 259

Timb. Setiausaha Agung

1 Abdul Halim Mansor (NUPCIW) 262

2 J. Solomon (NUBE)* 253

Setiausaha Kewangan

1 Samuel Devadasan (MTSU) Menang tanpa bertanding

Timb Setiausaha Kewangan

1 Jimmy Tong Yee Shen (AMCO) 280

2 Ng Choo Seong (ABOM) *222

Naib Presiden (Sektor Swasta)

1 W.N. Naim Shukri Mohamad (TNB) 296

2 Nordin Ahmad (Proton)* 260

3 S. Nadarajan (NUDIW)* 220

4 Robert Vijandran (RWEU) 219

5 Mustafa Maarof (MASEU) 299

6 Jey Kumar (AMESU) 243

7 Abd Razak Abd Hamid (Penang Textile)* 247

8 Balasubramaniam (UNEPASS) 265

9 C. Paramasivam (NUCW)* 214

10 Mohd Roszeli Majid (TNBJOU)* 234

Naib Presiden (Sektor Badan Berkanun)

1 Mohd Noor Abdullah (SOCSO)* 282

2 Zainal Ismail (LAP) 291

3 Hj Indera Putra Ismail (FELDA) 284

4 K. Vinothan (UMGSU)* 217

5 Siti bt Hj Mahfudz (KPHU) 242

6 S. Ravindran (PMSU)* 201

Naib Presiden (Sektor Awam)

Anuar Ibrahim (NUTP)* Menang tanpa bertanding

Kang Bee Leng (AUEGCAS)* Menang tanpa bertanding

Maimunah Ahmad* Menang tanpa bertanding

Oleh Faisal Mustaffa (KLPOS)

KUALA LUMPUR: Kesatuan Kebangsaan Pekerja Bank (NUBE) semalam membuat laporan polis terhadap Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn semalam kerana didakwa mengugut dan membuat kenyataan berunsur fitnah yang melanggar peruntukan seksyen 40 Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967.

Dalam laporan akhbar tersebut, Fong menyatakan bahawa polis boleh mengambil tindakan terhadap sesiapa yang mengadakan piket kerana perbuatan itu menyalahi undang-undang.

Menurut Fong, berkata, ahli NUBE tidak boleh mengadakan piket berhubung tuntutan kenaikan gaji, bonus dan pemberian elaun sara hidup (Cola) kerana tindakan itu menyalahi undang-undang berikutan tuntutan berkenaan sudah dirujuk kepada Mahkamah Perusahaan.

Laporan polis itu merujuk kepada laporan akhbar Berita Minggu 21 Oktober kelmarin yang memberi amaran bahawa polis boleh mengambil tindakan terhadap sesiapa yang mengadakan piket berhubung dengan pertikaian kesatuan sekerja tersebut dengan majikan.

Laporan polis itu juga menyebut bahawa Fong melanggar Artikel 10 Perlembagaan Persekutuan mengenai kebebasan berpersatuan dan perhimpunan.

Menurut Setiausaha Agung NUBE, J Solomon, ugutan seumpama itu merupakan kesalahan jenayah yang boleh dihukum seperti diperuntukkan mengikut Seksyen 39 Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967 dengan penjara selama setahun atau denda.

Apabila ditanya alasan laporan polis dibuat oleh kesatuan, J Solomon memberitahu bahawa ianya dibuat untuk membolehkan pihak polis memulakan penyiasatan serta mengambil tindakan sewajarnya.

“Tindakan beliau (Fong) yang terlalu cepat merujuk perkara ini tanpa sebarang mesyuarat damai antara kedua belah pihak menimbulkan perasaan curiga kerana kebiasaannya ia mengambil masa dua hingga tiga tahun untuk merujuk sebarang kes pertikaian perusahaan kepada JabatanPerhubungan Perusahaan dan Mahkamah Perusahaan,” tambah Solomon lagi.

Dalam kenyataan lain, Presiden Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC), Syed Shahir Mohamud juga mengecam kenyataan Fong dengan mengatakan bahawa tidak perlu ada sesuatu pihak, lebih-lebih lagi pihak kerajaan mengugut mana-mana kesatuan sekerja yang menuntut kenaikan gaji yang munasabah lebih-lebih lagi dalam konteks pertikaian perusahaan (trade dispute) yang masih belum selesai.

“MTUC menyokong perjuangan NUBE dalam isu tuntutan kenaikan gaji sebanyak 30%, bonus 2 bulan dan pemberian Cola”, jelas Syed Shahir.

Written by Berita Harian
Tuesday, 23 October 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Kesatuan Kebangsaan Pekerja Bank (Nube) membuat laporan polis terhadap Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn semalam kerana didakwa mengugut dan membuat kenyataan berunsur fitnah yang melanggar peruntukan seksyen 40 Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967.

Setiausaha Agung Nube, J Solomon, berkata kenyataan Fong yang disiarkan Berita Minggu kelmarin juga melanggar Artikel 10
Perlembagaan Persekutuan mengenai kebebasan berpersatuan dan perhimpunan.

“Beliau (Fong) cuai dan tidak bertanggungjawab apabila mengeluarkan kenyataan kononnya polis boleh mengambil tindakan terhadap sesiapa yang mengadakan piket kerana perbuatan itu menyalahi undang-undang.

“Ugutan seumpama itu juga adalah kesalahan jenayah yang boleh dihukum seperti diperuntukkan mengikut Seksyen 39 Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967 dengan penjara selama setahun atau denda.

Laporan polis dibuat untuk membolehkan pihak polis memulakan penyiasatan serta mengambil tindakan sewajarnya,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini, semalam.

Berita Minggu kelmarin melaporkan Fong berkata, ahli Nube tidak boleh mengadakan piket berhubung tuntutan kenaikan gaji, bonus dan pemberian elaun sara hidup (Cola) kerana tindakan itu menyalahi undang-undang berikutan tuntutan berkenaan sudah dirujuk kepada Mahkamah Perusahaan.

Beliau berkata, kenyataan menteri berkenaan sebagai fitnah kerana menggambarkan Nube sebagai kesatuan yang tidak bertanggungjawab serta menggalakkan tindakan haram di kalangan ahlinya.

“Tindakan beliau (Fong) yang terlalu cepat merujuk perkara ini tanpa sebarang mesyuarat damai antara kedua belah pihak menimbulkan perasaan curiga kerana kebiasaannya ia mengambil masa dua hingga tiga tahun untuk merujuk sebarang kes pertikaian perusahaan kepada Jabatan Perhubungan Perusahaan dan Mahkamah Perusahaan,” katanya.

“Nube mahu menegaskan hak untuk berpiket adalah hak asasi setiap kesatuan sekerja di negara ini terkandung dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Presiden Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC), Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud kesal dengan kenyataan Fong yang dilihat sebagai ‘mengugut’.

“MTUC menyokong penuh perjuangan Nube dalam isu tuntutan kenaikan gaji 30 peratus, bonus dua bulan dan pemberian Cola.

Kami juga menggesa menteri terbabit menarik balik amaran itu dan mahu ugutan tidak berulang pada masa depan,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan semalam.

Sumber : Berita Harian

Sep 22, 07 –Cuepacs has urged consumers to boycott goods whose prices have been indiscriminately raised by traders.

Its president Omar Osman said in a statement today that the congress and the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) would organise a gathering at the Sungai Besi toll plaza tomorrow (Sunday) to show displeasure against price increases.

“Cuepacs will also distribute 30,000 pamphlets containing the list of goods that should be boycotted,” he said.

Proven successful

Omar said if everyone gave their cooperation, the initiative would be effective in making traders realise the power wielded by consumers.

He said such a boycott had been done before and proven successful.

The campaign, he said, would continue until the end of the festive season and that it would not be confined to consumers in the Klang Valley but nationwide.

Omar also urged the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to step up monitoring activities to ensure traders did not increase prices.

Increase in food prices has been a nagging problem in the country before and during festive occasions as traders tend to make take advantage of the festivals to make a quick buck.

Malaysiakini

Aug 8, 07 –Thousands of Malaysian workers today staged a nationwide protest demanding the government set a compulsory monthly minimum wage of RM900.

The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC), the country’s largest labour group, said about 30,000 of its members joined the protest across the country.

About a thousand picketed the Employees Provident Fund headquarters near central Kuala Lumpur, the MTUC said.

Opposition leaders such as R Sivarasa, Hatta Ramli, Salahuddin Ayub and Dr Nasir Hashim were also present to show support to the union at the EPF building.

Police said the protest was largely peaceful and there were no immediate reports of violence.

The nationwide protest was the second since June spearheaded by the trade unions, and was meant to push government to accede to the minimum wage demand to protect workers from a large pool of foreign workers competing for jobs.

“We have to show the government that we are serious in our intentions and they must comply with our demands,” said MTUC secretary general G Rajasekaran.

Need for minimum-wage law

He said that after the first protest, the government invited them for talks but only to advise unions to set up wage councils for different industries.

The government response, he said, was unacceptable.

“We need a law for (a) minimum wage to ensure a better future for us and the country,” Rajasekaran said.

Opposition party DAP supported the protest, saying local workers needed to be protected from the influx of foreigners cornering a major chunk of the labour market.

Malaysia’s construction and plantation sectors rely heavily on the services of cheap labour from an estimated pool of nearly half a million illegal workers from neighbouring countries.

The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research earlier estimated that by 2010, there will be an estimated five million foreign workers in Malaysia.

Workers in constant debt

Meanwhile, at the EPF headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur, slogans calling out for minimum wage were punctuated with honks from passing vehicles during rush hour, reports malaysiakini’s Bede Hong.

“Why is the government so worried. As far as MTUC is concerned we will fight all out. Don’t play with MTUC because we represent a million workers in the country. That is the message we want to convey to the government,” said MTUC vice president Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid.

Protestors held placards that read “Government sold rights of workers”, “Human Resource Ministry conspire with employers to oppress workers”, “PM: Stop HR Ministry’s little Napoleons” and “RM350 salary - This after 50 years of Independence?”

“The government should take care of their own people first, instead of using the influx of foreign labourers as an excuse,” said Mohd Zamhuri Abu Tahir, 58, a retired contractor.

Noraini Mohamad, 29, a bank employee from Rawang said, “Inflation in these past two years has made life very difficult for those who earn less than RM900.”

Menara Maybank Union chairperson Aziz Abu Kamir felt banks can afford to implement minimum wage: “The CEOs (chief executive officers) are paid so much. The banks are making so much money, while dispatch riders are only paid RM600 while clerks are paid less than RM900.”

There are over 5,000 bank employees that earn less than RM900, said National Union of Bank Employees general secretary J Solomon.

“These workers cannot afford to live in the capital with such meagre pay. They are in constant debt, placing great strain on their families.”

Prathap Vasudevan, 45, a concierge in a local hotel said, “I have been working in the front lines for 15 years, but I still make just over RM1,000. There should be minimum wage if the government is serious in promoting the tourism sector.”

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2 (ES) – The two main opposition parties here today have expressed support for a picket on Aug 8, to get the government to enact a minimum wage of RM900 and a cost of living allowance (COLA) of RM300.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) have separately endorsed the longstanding call by Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) for the past decade for such a law to be enacted.

In a weekly press conference held at the party headquarters in Brickfields, PKR secretary general Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the introduction of a minimum wage act was “the easiest way out” to solve the problem of poverty in the country.

He also expressed disappointment that the government under leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi had rejected a memorandum sent by MTUC without “implementing any study or organizing any dialogue sessions”.

“PKR was also disappointed that the Prime Minister has chosen to ignore calls by MTUC leaderships to meet and discuss on (this) issue of worker’s rights,” he said.

“We therefore urge all party members to take part in a picket on Aug 8 that will be held nationwide to demand for a minimum wage (act),” he said.

Also present at the press conference were PKR vice president Sivarasa Rasiah and MTUC financial secretary A. Sivananthan.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had earlier expressed support for the picket and urged party members to lend their support.

A wage of RM140 per month

Sivananthan said there are workers in “the northern states” of the country who are being paid a basic salary of RM140 and expressed concern that there might be many others in the same predicament.

He said of the nine million workers in the country, only some ten percent were in some form of unionized organization.

“The other 90 percent is at the whim and fancy of the employer,” he said adding that the contracts of employment that any workers entered to were often at the discretion of their employers.

He also reiterated the MTUC’s rejection of government proposals to form an inquiry body as well as a wage council to monitor workers wages in specific industries.

He said regardless of the amount of a minimum wages the government “must accept the concept of introducing minimum wage (act)”.

Sivananthan said the picket which would start at 5.30pm in various sites nationwide was also held to get the government to re-negotiate amendment to Industrial Relation Act and Workers Union Act to be tabled in Parliament for second reading this month.-Saadon Aksah/ES

(Bernama) -- Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) dijangka berpiket secara aman di seluruh negara pada 8 Ogos ini bagi menuntut kerajaan menimbangkan pemberian gaji minimum RM900 dan Elaun Sara Hidup (COLA) RM300 kepada pekerja sektor swasta.

Presiden MTUC Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud berkata Anggota Majlis MTUC akan menentukan sama ada piket akan diteruskan.

Selain di ibu negara, piket dirancang akan diadakan serentak di lebih 13 lokasi lain seperti Petaling Jaya, Bangi, Shah Alam, Klang, Johor, Kuching, Pulau Pinang, Ipoh, Melaka dan Seremban, katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini.

Beliau berkata piket peringkat pertama pada 25 Jun lepas didapati mendapat sambutan mengalakkan dan berjaya menghantar mesej kepada kerajaan.

“Tetapi tindak balas dari apa yang kita minta adalah amat dingin. Oleh itu kita akan mengadakan sekali lagi piket jika masih tidak ada respons positif dari kerajaan,” katanya.

Syed Shahir berkata kerajaan tidak mempunyai alasan untuk menolak tuntutan MTUC kerana apa yang dituntut pernah dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan sebelum ini.

Pemberian COLA pernah dilaksanakan semasa zaman Perdana Menteri kedua, Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak, katanya.

Beliau berkata walaupun kerajaan menetapkan pendapatan bulanan bawah RM600 sebagai di bawah paras kemiskinan, namun terdapat majikan swasta masih memberi gaji serendah RM300 kepada pekerja. — BERNAMA

Muda Mohd Noor (Malaysiakini)

Jul 13, 07 – Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) dukacita dengan keputusan kerajaan menolak pelaksanaan gaji minimum RM900 dan elaun sara hidup (COLA) RM300 seperti yang dituntut oleh Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC).

Pergerakan itu juga menyifatkan alasan yang diberikan oleh kerajaan ketika menolak tuntutan MTUC itu sebagai lemah.

Ketua AMK, Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin berkata, kerajaan terus memberi alasan demi alasan ketika rakyat ditekan dengan pelbagai kenaikan harga barangan yang menjurus kepada meningkatnya kadar inflasi.

“AMK dengan tegas menyatakan bahawa pendekatan kerajaan menolak gesaan MTUC ini jelas membuktikan bahawa kelemahan tadbir urus yang begitu ketara.

“Kini jelas terbukti di bawah kerajaan yang sedia ada, golongan pekerja akan terus tertindas dan merempat di bumi sendiri kerana mereka gagal membela kepedulian rakyat keseluruhannya,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan semalam.

Shamsul berkata, persoalan penting yang ingin AMK bangkitkan ialah mengapa kerajaan sedia mempertimbangkan kenaikan gaji pekerja sektor awam, tetapi terus berdolak dalih untuk menaikkan gaji pekerja sektor swasta.

Katanya, kerajaan turut mendakwa tidak semua negara maju memberi gaji minimum kepada pekerjanya dengan mengambil contoh Amerika Syarikat, Britain dan Australia yang membayar gaji mengikut tempoh jam bekerja.

Pekerja asing

Tetapi, katanya, sedarkah bahawa di Australia, gaji minimum ditetapkan AUD$13.47 sejam dan AUD$511.86 seminggu, bersamaan RM1,502.15 seminggu.
“Manakala di Britain pula kadar gaji minimum adalah £5.35 sejam dan £203.30 seminggu, bersamaan RM1,406.80 seminggu,” katanya.

Shamsul berkata, MTUC hanya menuntut RM1,200 sebulan iaitu bersama seminggu dengan gaji minimum di negara-negara maju.

Sebaliknya, kata beliau, kerajaan lebih mengutamakan projek mega dan kehendak dua-tiga kerat elik politik daripada memikirkan kebajikan pekerja yang kian menderita.

“Kos penggajian pekerja asing tidak meningkat dengan perlaksanaan gaji minimum jika kos pengurusan visa,permit kerja dan levi mereka diambil kira.

“Justeru itu tidak timbul sama sekali syarikat tempatan akan gulung tikar seandainya gaji minimum dilaksanakan.

“Sebaliknya kerajaan masih bersikap pesimis dengan segala cadangan balas dan hujah analitikal yang dikemukakan oleh MTUC dan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR),” katanya.