MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek has rejected the allegation by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) that the party only speaks for the wealthy, stressing that MCA supports a minimum wage for local workers.

Chua in a statement today clarified that MCA's proposal to the cabinet is that the levy on foreign workers, as well as their transportation and housing allowances, should be borne by foreign workers themselves.

NONE "We would also like to stress that our proposal does not apply to local workers."

The rationale behind the proposal, Chua said, was to ensure that foreign workers do not earn more than local workers after the implementation of the minimum wage of RM900 a month and the allowances that local workers do not get to enjoy.

"The foreign workers are actually earning more and this is unfair, not just to the local workers but also to the employers who have to bear the additional costs.

"It is a fact that local workers are not happy that foreign workers are actually earning more than them with the minimum wage policy coming into effect," Chua asserted.

'MCA spokesman of the wealthy'

Last week MTUC urged the government not to backtrack on the minimum wage policy and called MCA "the spokesman of the wealthy".

In today's statement, Chua pointed out that a drastic increase in additional costs may also lead to many employers ending their businesses, especially the small- and medium-scale enterprises, causing hardship to the employees.

bangladesh foreign workers migrants 030108 "We welcome the cabinet decision that foreign workers now have to bear their own levy, but we feel that by shifting the levy alone to foreign workers is not enough and we insist that the allowances of the foreign workers should be included in their minimum wage.

"We support local workers in enjoying the RM900 minimum wage a month, on top of any other allowances, so please do not confuse that we are against the minimum wage.

"To MCA, the benefits for Malaysians come first. We have to balance the interests of our local workers and the employers to ensure a sustainable economic growth for our nation," Chua added.

On Wednesday, the government gave in to the pressure from private sector and decided that with immediate effect, foreign workers will have to pay their levy fees , which was previously borne by their employers.

The decision did not go down well with MTUC, which said it discriminates against migrant workers.

MTUC announced that it will file an official complaint with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Describing the sudden reversal of policy requiring foreign workers to pay their levy as “a great injustice against migrant workers”, MTUC secretary-general Abdul Halim Mansor also called on union members not to support MCA candidates in the coming general election.

“Don't vote for MCA candidates, they are not worker-friendly,” he said in a statement issued yesterday.