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?
MTUC, an umbrella body for Malaysia’s eight million private sector workers,
estimated that 40 percent of these workers earn less than RM700 per month, mostly
working in plantations or factories.
<p>MTUC has been demanding that the Government comply with its call for a RM900
minimum wage and a RM300 cost of living allowance (COLA) for the private sector
workers.</p>
<p>While it’s only fair that these workers too enjoy better wages and benefits,
what seemed rather unfortunate is that MTUC resorted to a picketing threat in
coercing the Government to agree to its demands. MTUC had on June 18 presented
a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s office giving the Government a one-week
ultimatum to respond failing which it would turn to picketing, which it did
in some parts of the country recently.</p>
<p>It is most disappointing that MTUC failed to realise that the most important
of all tools in making any demand was `negotiation’. The Congress failed to
appreciate the Government’s willingness to undertake a `dialogue and negotiation’
exercise with it and wasted no time in resorting to a series of strikes.</p>
<p>The move by MTUC to demand for a minimum wage was primarily influenced by the
Government’s recent decision to increase the salary for the civil servants.
What this Congress may not have realised is that this good news only came about
after dialogue and negotiation between the government and Cuepacs. If only MTUC
had taken this `talk and discuss’ approach, then it probably would have made
some tangible progress.</p>
<p><b>WORKERS’ INTEREST COMPROMISED</b></p>
<p>The move to fight for a minimum wage in itself is noble and there is no denying
that the Government would have been too glad to engage in a dialogue with MTUC
if only the Congress had shown some patience in tackling this issue.</p>
<p>For the Government, the protests’ staged by MTUC would only stand to affect
the workers as employers are moving elsewhere in view of the rising labour cost.
Even investors would think hard before investing in Malaysia. This ‘no win-win’
situation is what the Government is trying to prevent at all costs.</p>
<p>Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn was quoted as saying that
the MTUC should be practical and drop its demand for a RM900 minimum wage for
all private sector employees. He said if the Government was to comply with the
demand, the country would lose its competitive edge.</p>
<p>Fong said the Government was prepared to discuss the matter with MTUC but adopting
a confrontational approach would benefit no one. Fong said a minimum wage could
be introduced for workers in certain sectors such as dock workers and cargo
handlers while the minimum wage for others sectors should be left to the market
forces.</p>
<p><b>NOT WISE TO BULLDOZE DEMAND</b></p>
<p>Perhaps the recent news that the civil servants will soon be enjoying a pay
rise might have triggered a reaction in MTUC to achieve the same for the private
sector. Effective July 1, all civil employees and security forces would benefit
from a pay rise of between 7.5 percent and 42 percent. Also raised is the Cost
of Living Allowance (COLA) by 100 percent. This was the first such increase
since 1992.</p>
<p>MTUC should in retrospect apply the same approach taken by Cuepacs in fighting
for a pay hike for civil servants. Good news finally arrived, albeit taking
15-long years before it finally came about.</p>
<p>To bulldoze a wage rise is not going to work and MTUC hopefully has realised
that. Instead of putting the workers welfare at risk it is only wise that it
sits down for a discussion on this matter with the government.</p>
<p><b>NEGOTIATIONS A MUST</b></p>
<p>Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, corporate advisor to The Sunway Group told Bernama
the matter has been outstanding for a long time and that the Government needs
to address it soon.</p>
<p>"I don’t think there is undue pressure here," he said.</p>
<p>Navaratnam, a former economic advisor to the Government said negotiations should
always be the method for settling issues.</p>
<p>"Picketing and other instruments should be the last resort, when they
believe negotiations are not fruitful," he explained.</p>
<p>Ramon wished MTUC would also contribute a formula for raising productivity,
to ensure the country’s competitiveness in a globalised environment.</p>
<p>"Otherwise, we may lose jobs instead of gaining salary increases! There
has to be a fair and fine balance between wage increase and higher productivity,"
he said.</p>
<p><b>SOLUTIONS ALWAYS AVAILABLE</b></p>
<p>National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) executive secretary A. Navamunkundan
told Bernama that it was in the best interest of the nation that the current
wage rates and income distribution be reviewed.</p>
<p>"Over time, the wage system has evolved. MTUC should be given a hearing
and solutions to problems can be found if the problem is discussed objectively
and realistically. Let us be transparent about information sharing and find
a solution," he said.</p>
<p>– BERNAMA</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=274484</i>
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com