Mixed views on minimum wage for petrol kiosk workers
BernamaPublished: Jan 20, 2013 10:33 AM | Updated: Jan 20, 2013 10:34 AM
The RM900 minimum wage to be implemented at more than 3,000 petrol stations in the country early this year has received a mixed reaction from local and foreign workers.
The RM900 minimum wage to be implemented at more than 3,000 petrol stations in the country early this year has received a mixed reaction from local and foreign workers.
Petrol station general worker Annuar Alias, 74, said the job should preferably be given to local youths as many of them were unemployed.
“Help the local people to improve their economy first before helping outsiders. It will also reduce our unemployment rate,” he said.
He also shrugged off the claim that petrol station operators were more inclined to employ foreigners, especially from Bangladesh, because of their diligence and willingness to accept a low salary.
Shell station supervisor Faizul Ahmad, 28, similarly said the job should be given to local workers as the new salary was reasonable, besides allowing them to benefit from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and insurance coverage.
“Those who had just completed their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), or university students who had completed their studies can fill the posts and earn some money while waiting to get permanent employment,” he suggested.
Bangladeshi Muhammad Ikhlas, 28, who has been working for two years at a petrol station in Kuala Lumpur, said he was worried that his contract would not be renewed upon expiry.
“I hope I will be allowed to keep my job as I have to support five family members including a child back in Dhaka,” he said, adding that Malaysia was a conducive place to earn a living.
His countryman and fellow petrol station worker Saddam Hossain, 22, who has been employed for three years, also expressed his hope that he could continue working as he had to support his parents and two unmarried sisters.
Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) president Hashim Othman recently announced that 3,640 petrol station operators agreed to the salary adjustment for their workers from between RM600 and RM700, to RM900 in the peninsula and RM800 in Sabah and Sarawak.
An English daily reported recently that the employment of 50,000 foreigners at petrol stations was expected to be terminated this year with the implementation of the minimum wage.
- Bernama
Petrol station general worker Annuar Alias, 74, said the job should preferably be given to local youths as many of them were unemployed.
“Help the local people to improve their economy first before helping outsiders. It will also reduce our unemployment rate,” he said.
He also shrugged off the claim that petrol station operators were more inclined to employ foreigners, especially from Bangladesh, because of their diligence and willingness to accept a low salary.
Shell station supervisor Faizul Ahmad, 28, similarly said the job should be given to local workers as the new salary was reasonable, besides allowing them to benefit from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and insurance coverage.
“Those who had just completed their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), or university students who had completed their studies can fill the posts and earn some money while waiting to get permanent employment,” he suggested.
Bangladeshi Muhammad Ikhlas, 28, who has been working for two years at a petrol station in Kuala Lumpur, said he was worried that his contract would not be renewed upon expiry.
“I hope I will be allowed to keep my job as I have to support five family members including a child back in Dhaka,” he said, adding that Malaysia was a conducive place to earn a living.
His countryman and fellow petrol station worker Saddam Hossain, 22, who has been employed for three years, also expressed his hope that he could continue working as he had to support his parents and two unmarried sisters.
Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) president Hashim Othman recently announced that 3,640 petrol station operators agreed to the salary adjustment for their workers from between RM600 and RM700, to RM900 in the peninsula and RM800 in Sabah and Sarawak.
An English daily reported recently that the employment of 50,000 foreigners at petrol stations was expected to be terminated this year with the implementation of the minimum wage.
- Bernama
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