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Workers crashed, unions bashed. Let's fight, now or never!
Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM) Press Release - October 12, 2011
Do you want to vote a government that trades you for money?
Friends, do not take lightly the amendments to the 1955 Employment Act proposed by the Human Resource Minister. If we ordinary workers accept that, then you and I will no longer be paid justly. As one of my co-worker said, we would be treated like "flock of goats". Because the sub-contractors are now your employer, not the big company who owns the means of production. No negotiation, no bargaining power. You know why? Because contract jobs are projects based, it's temporary and no contractor would allow you to form union! Worst still we do not have job security anymore! We all become temporary workers!
The sub-contractor must ensure the project assigned is finish on time, so he is not going to be bothered about your health or your rights. For him, the job must be done, or else the "big master" would not pay him. Currently, most contractors don't even contribute to workers EPF and SOCSO, some delay wages for months, no leaves allowed, sick or not you have to go to work because you are paid hourly. No work, no pay. We lose all our basic amenities and rights. What guarantee is there that under these new amendments, the contractors would comply?
Do you really want to vote a government that has failed to protect the workers even now, what with the new amendments which is quoted as the worst in 40 years?
Take for example, the struggle of CHG Plywood workers, about 20 of them forced to resign because the employer consistently paid their salary (especially their overtime) late every month for more than 5 years. Complaints were made to the Labor Department but to no avail. Case filed at the Labor in 2007 and the decision in 2010 was for them to receive 35% of the total compensation claimed. Till to date, the workers did not see the 35% money, neither did they received any reply from the government on the balance 65% compensation claimed or the workers demand for enactment of a new law, Workers Retrenchment Fund.
Shockingly, the new amendments suggest that the employer (the sub-contractors) pay the workers overtime wages within 30 days. How absurd is that? Does the minister fail to realize that the ordinary workers don't get RM10, 000 pay check a month or few thousand allowance as he does. With basic salary RM600 or RM700, overtime pay or any other allowance for an ordinary worker is a "life and death issue".
Do you know, this new amendment does not allow you to appeal to the Minister if the decision at Labor court does not side you! Isn't that a violation, knowing well who would be the main victims?
13 years ago, 3 brave women workers from Guppy Plastic Industries started an in house union (because they were very angry with the management for a miserable salary increase... some cents!) What happened? All 3 were sacked for union activities, case filed and till to date, they are still waiting for justice!
One of the unionist, Ros said, "13 years ago we were paid between RM17 to RM22 per day and today the factory I'm working pay about the same, RM25 per day, why?"
But our elected BN representatives talks and talks about minimum wage and still talking. They have all the time to table a "flexible labor law" to further exploit and suck the workers blood but no time for minimum wage law that protects workers like Ros and millions others like her.
Can you imagine for one moment how this BN government ever going to ensure that all the sub-contractors supplying labors to the BIG Companies are registered with the Ministry and not mistreat the workers.
Do we not already know how many "middle men" were ruining the livelihood of farmers in the 70-80s? Don't we remember how many "agents" popped up when the government allowed private agencies to hire foreign workers? And how many foreign workers are there now, about 3 million? We have heard many sad stories of how these workers were indebted back home to pay these agents for a decent job. The most recent, sub contract of biometrics finger print for foreign workers resulted in many paying few thousands instead of RM30!
As workers we are loosing our bargaining power because the labor supply is more than the demand. The unemployment rate would increase, wages would remain low.
And now finally MTUC (Empty You see) have finally woken up and called for a nation wide picket. That's about time. Together we win, divided we lose. Union is strength. Let's mobilize for the 3th. November nation wide rally.
It is time for us - the majority workers to fight. It is now or never
Long live workers struggle!
Comradely,
Letchimi Devi
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