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?
Their main argument to back up their claim is that salaries
have not been reviewed for the last 10 years, with the cost of living going up
tremendously.
<P>Is their request justified? Generally, there is a consensus
for a salary increase, but some people have put a condition to it — the civil
service force should be leaner and meaner.</P><P>"The government should reduce
the number of civil servants and employ only the best people and pay them better.
This will raise the standard of the civil service," said Social Strategic
Foundation executive director Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria.</P><P>He said whether
they were doctors, policemen or receptionists, those in government employ must
be able to perform well. Those who do not should be asked to leave.</P><P>Jayasooria
said the civil servants’ performance was below world standard.</P><P>"Unlike
workers in the private sector, most government servants are too comfortable with
their job, knowing that they will not be sacked even if their performance is poor,"
he said.</P><P>Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsudin Bardan
said since the last wage review for civil servants, the consumer price index has
not increased by 40 per cent to warrant a hike of that size.</P><P>"If there
should be a salary increase, let it be based on the key performance index,"
he said.</P><P>"The civil service receives much flak for its inefficiency
and, therefore, the workers have to prove that they are efficient to deserve a
higher salary."</P><P>On the size of the civil service, Shamsudin said it
should be about quality and not numbers.</P><P>"I feel a civil service of
between 800,000 and 900,000 would be adequate for a population of between 32 million
and 33 million by 2020."</P><P>He said since voluntary separation schemes
or retrenchment were unthinkable in the government, there should be natural attrition
where civil servants who retire or resign should not be replaced so that the figure
would be not only at a comfortable level, but also more efficient.</P><P>Former
director for Centre for Public Policy Studies, Dr Lim Teck Ghee, supported the
request for a salary hike, but felt that the increases should be proportionate.</P><P>He
noted that the lowest paid civil servants were receiving less than RM500 a month,
which placed them in the hardcore poor group.</P><P>Lim said a salary review was
urgently needed.</P><P>However, there should be a progressive salary increase
with those in the lower scales receiving more in terms of percentage.</P><P>"Already
the salary differences within the Malaysian civil service are among the worst
in the world.</P><P>"A huge increase for the top scale civil servants is
likely to increase this income inequality," he said.</P><P>MTUC deputy president
Shafie B.P. Mamal said since the price of everything had gone up, it was only
logical for civil servants to be paid more.</P><P>He, however, felt that a 40
per cent hike would be on the high side.</P><P>"Cuepacs and the government
should discuss the issue with an open mind and come up with a realistic figure."</P><P>The
manager of a private firm said the number of civil servants must be trimmed.</P><P>"There
are about 1.3 million civil servants but the same job could be done by perhaps
800,000 people," he said.</P><P>"Reduce the number and the amount saved
on their salaries should be paid to those who are efficient. At present, even
with 1.3 million civil staff, it takes a long time to get things done at government
departments.</P><P>"It is not that they have so much work to do but they
are simply inefficient."</P><P>The owner of a small business spoke out against
any pay increases.</P><P>"Why should my taxes be used to pay higher salary
to the inefficient and over-staffed civil service.</P><P>The government’s
salary bill is estimated at RM1.7 billion a month and an increase of 25 per cent
translates into RM400 million.</P><P>Cuepacs president Omar Osman disagreed with
the suggestion that the civil service should be trimmed to justify a salary increase.</P><P>"No.
I do not agree. In fact, I think the number should be gradually increased to 1.5
million by 2010 to prepare the country for developed nation status by 2020,"
he said.</P><P>Omar, however, admitted that the employees in several departments
were not performing up to par.</P><P>"We are working to improve the situation."</P><P>Omar
said Cuepacs leaders would go on a road show, which began with Kota Baru on Dec
16 and Klang (today), Kuala Terengganu (Saturday) and Alor Star (Sunday), to argue
its case for a salary hike.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com