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?
The Minimum Wage is a dire need for Malaysian workers.
The implementation of the 6% Goods and Services Tax coupled with the ever-increasing cost of living – food, clothing, housing, transport, education and medical has a multiple fold impact on workers.
One of the main objectives of the Minimum Wage Policy is to ensure that all employees in Malaysia earn a decent wage and for the country’s wage policy to be in line with the goal of becoming a high-income nation and thus having an equitable share of the nation’s wealth and prosperity.
It must be noted that the Minimum Wage Order places a mandatory revision of the Minimum Wage once in two years at the least or within a lesser duration. The 2nd revision of the Minimum Wage Order was delayed by 18 months and only implemented in July 2016 when it should have been on January 2015. Hence, it is important for trade union leaders to make the meaningful suggestion to the Government including justifiable recommendations in view of the high cost of living and the pitiful state of the urban poor, uplifting the B40 and M40 population.
The suppression of wages has gone on long enough in Malaysia. The nearest and easiest comparison is Singapore. A nation that was once with us, a nation with limited resources has moved so far ahead of Malaysia.
In the Focus Group discussion held today with the Ministry of Human Resources Minimum Wage Technical Committee we received reports that two (2) trade union representatives – namely Bro Denif Jaganathan who is the Assistant Secretary of Health and Medical Association, Ipoh Kinta Medical Centre recommended that the Minimum Wage be reviewed once (1) in five years and consequent to an outcry by the others he said once in three (3) years. He was finally corrected by the Focus Group Chairman that according to the Order it was once in every two (2) years or lesser.
The other, Bro Matkar Siwang who is the President of Food Industry Employees Union and Vice President of MTUC proposed an increase of at least RM 50 or RM 100.00 as Minimum Wage when all other Union leaders present agree that the new Minimum Wage should be RM 1,800.00.
It is really very sad and disheartening to observe workers representatives not being fully prepared to genuinely and truly stand up to defend the workers they represent.
These engagement with the Government are the few opportunities where the Trade Union movement can bring benefits to the millions of unorganised workers of Malaysia including the migrant workers. The role of the Trade Unionists in these meetings is not on his/her own frolic but he/she is the rep to protect the interest of the workers in Malaysia. Therefore, the reps must be well prepared, do their homework, research, coordinate with MTUC to ensure there is unity of purpose and collective solidarity instead of doing or saying anything that would undermine the Trade Union position or dilute it. The two (2) unionist conduct is prejudicial to the struggle and interest of the Trade Union movement in this country.
MTUC calls all Trade Unions; do ensure that the right representative is sent to discussions and meeting like the above in order to ensure meaningful discussion and dissemination of information so that we could provide a decent living wage in tandem with the Government aspiration to achieve vision 2020 in order for workers to support himself and his family and enjoy a decent life.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com