MALACCA: Cuepacs and MTUC are concerned over the impending bus fare increase.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress has asked the government not to allow an increase, while Cuepacs is happy that there will not be a 100 per cent hike.

Cuepacs president Omar Osman said the increase in bus fares during the festive season would affect people in the low income bracket.

MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said the timing of the fare increase was wrong.

“Hari Raya is a time when families get together and such hikes would dampen the mood of the people,” he said.
Both Syed Shahir and Omar also called on the government to do more for the low-income group.

Omar said the government should monitor the prices of food in the weeks leading up to Hari Raya.

He said this during a press conference after officiating Universiti Teknikal Malaysia, Malacca Academic Officers Association’s second annual general meeting here.

He said the matter of the place of worship, the issue of which had resulted in Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne being allegedly punched by an aide of Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, would be referred to PKR divisional head in Desa Mentari, Kelana Jaya, Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, for a solution.

The incident resulted from young PKR leaders eager to bring forward their respective opinions as representatives of the local people, he said after opening the Selangor Astronomy Convention 2008 organised by the Selangor Mufti Department, here.

Loh was allegedly punched during the ground-breaking for a place of worship at Desa Mentari Friday. Residents in the area had protested against the construction of the building there, claiming that it did not have the approval of the Petaling Jaya City Council.

Meanwhile, Umno Information Chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib said the assault between two PKR members showed that PKR lacked the wisdom to handle issues related to religion.

The Barisan Nasional arrived at a consensus in matters involving religion, he said after opening a seminar on Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam), here.

SHAH ALAM: Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has brushed off the incident that involved PKR Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne who alleged he was punched in the right eye by a man believed to be the personal assistant of Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad from the same party as an internal dispute.

“It’s among the young ones of PKR. We see it as an internal dispute that has been solved between both individuals. Both men have apologised and it’s a neighbourhood issue that will be resolved in an amicable manner with the help of Kelana Jaya division chairman Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud,” he said.

Khalid said no disciplinary action would be taken on either individual as it was just a difference of opinion.

It is learnt that the alleged incident occurred during the groundbreaking ceremony for a place of worship at Desa Mentari on Friday afternoon where residents living in the area had protested against the construction of the building there.

Loh who was present had approached the organisers to discuss the matter when he was punched in the face by a man believed to be an aide of Nik Nazmi.

Nik Nazmi who is currently in Britain attending his wife’s graduation is the political secretary to Khalid.

Khalid said, “the young ones are eager to do their best for the people, express the people’s views but it has to be done through constructive consultation and must not get physical at any moment of time.”

“One good thing that has come out of this is the high level of transparency, accountability and the presence of the people’s representatives in the neighbourhoods to solve issues,” he said.

Asked how it could be an internal dispute when the incident occurred in public, Khalid once again played the matter down by saying that it was all right as it shows that the party members are very much involved in the field and are with the people.

“Differences of opinion take place but we encourage constructive consultation and views shared. It also fosters a better understanding among the leaders and its people in a particular neighbourhood,” he added.

Khalid said to avoid future misunderstandings; construction of all places of worship must obtain approval from the respective local authorities.

Earlier he officiated the Astronomy Convention at Sirim here where he announced that an observatory centre would be built at Sungai Lang in Sabak Bernam costing an estimated RM2mil to further the study on astronomy.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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