Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
Comprising mainly of meter readers from the TNB Junior Officers Union, the
picketers donned headbands with the words, “We want justice” and shouted
fiery slogans condemning TNB chief Che Khalib Mohamad Noh for treating them
like ‘machines’.
<p>Under the watchful eyes of the police, the crowd marched peacefully along Jalan
Bangsar opposite the Abdullah Hukum LRT station displaying their placards to
passing motorist who honked in support.</p>
<p>The union was upset over the modification of meter readers’ overtime pay
scale since Jan 2 which they argue was unfair to workers, many of whom have
served the company for many years.</p>
<p>Union president Hang Tuah Raja Iskandar told a press conference earlier that
this violated Article 1(5) of the CA that guarantees existing benefits to remain
enforced unless a new agreement is met between the management and the union.</p>
<p><b>Government-linked company</b></p>
<p>“Such a malpractice should not happen in a GLC (government-linked company).
If this can happen in TNB, what is going to happen in smaller companies?</p>
<p>“We don’t need a rich CEO who does not understand industrial relations,
we want the government to put someone from TNB in that post, not an outsider,”
he said adding that the starting salary of an average TNB worker is only RM700.</p>
<p>Under the new overtime scheme, TNB will pay overtime based on performance and
no longer by the hour.</p>
<p>Hang Tuah claimed that the nature of the scheme was not of major concern but
it should have gotten the union’s agreement first.</p>
<p>“Under the old scheme, meter readers were paid overtime by the hour, which
is calculated on the number of meters you read equivalent to an hour’s work.
Now they fixed the rate to 40 sen per extra meter, and each reader is also given
a set quota every month,” he said.</p>
<p><b>Unfair</b></p>
<p>The fixed quota means meter readers have to complete reading the minimum number
of meters before they can claim overtime, regardless of how many days they work
each month. Even if the worker is sick or on leave, the quota is fixed.</p>
<p>“The flat forty cents per extra meter caused senior meter readers to suffer
pay cuts because their overtime pay is no longer calculated based on their basic
salary, which is higher than new employees. Now, everyone gets the same,”
he said.</p>
<p>Hang Tuah said this is also unfair to workers because it does not take into
account the location of the meter reader.</p>
<p>“Whether you are working in Kuala Lumpur or Alor Setar, you get the same
40 sen. This is unfair as meter readers in KL cover areas that are densely populated
whereas the Alor Setar person would have to travel far in paddy fields to cover
a much smaller number of meters,” he said.</p>
<p>The pickets are set to continue every week until the matter is resolved. Hang
Tuah also denied allegations by TNB’s management that the union was seeking
better renumerations based on the recent electricity tariff hike as they merely
wanted status quo on existing benefits.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com