Century-old wage system still intact
Ajinder KaurPublished: Apr 24, 2001 12:41 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Activists argue that Malaysian plantations are, till today, run like the colonial days. Some 112,800 workers in over 1,000 plantations are still working under a century-old wage system in which they are paid daily wages without yearly increments and bonuses.
This is despite that three generations of plantation workers have toiled in these estates and contributed to the nation's economy. Employers have also raked in exorbitant profits through their hard work. Yet, these workers have continued living under poverty with an average wage of only 60 per cent of those working in factories.
Figures in a Bank Negara Annual Report indicated that the real wage of plantation workers had decreased in 1999 as compared to 1995. Indeed, plantation workers today are poorer than they were 10 years ago. However, attempts to demand for a monthly wage by these workers have proved futile over the years.
Community Development Centre coordinator S. Arutchelvam said that a nationwide strike comprising about 100,000 plantation workers in 1990 to protest against the refusal of the Malayan Agriculture Producers' Association to grant these workers a monthly wage ended unceremoniously after government intervention.
He added that the issue gradually died down when the case was referred to the Industrial Court by then acting Labour Minister Lee Kim Sai.
Realising the seriousness of the situation, these workers launched a campaign called "Monthly Wages" through the Plantation Workers Support Committee in 1996.
"It began with an assembly of 800 plantation workers in the Bukit Raja estate," said Arutchelvam. "The Committee launched house-to-house campaigns in all the plantations in the country to garner support," he added.
The campaign also sought the intervention of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. "The committee made four attempts to reach the PM but we have not received any response from him," Arutchelvam said. "The committee, with more than 2,000 plantation workers, then decided to hold demonstrations outside the Parliament on April 19 this year."
The demonstration, however, proved unsuccessful when not a single MP from the government was willing to intervene on their behalf.
This is despite that three generations of plantation workers have toiled in these estates and contributed to the nation's economy. Employers have also raked in exorbitant profits through their hard work. Yet, these workers have continued living under poverty with an average wage of only 60 per cent of those working in factories.
Figures in a Bank Negara Annual Report indicated that the real wage of plantation workers had decreased in 1999 as compared to 1995. Indeed, plantation workers today are poorer than they were 10 years ago. However, attempts to demand for a monthly wage by these workers have proved futile over the years.
Community Development Centre coordinator S. Arutchelvam said that a nationwide strike comprising about 100,000 plantation workers in 1990 to protest against the refusal of the Malayan Agriculture Producers' Association to grant these workers a monthly wage ended unceremoniously after government intervention.
He added that the issue gradually died down when the case was referred to the Industrial Court by then acting Labour Minister Lee Kim Sai.
Realising the seriousness of the situation, these workers launched a campaign called "Monthly Wages" through the Plantation Workers Support Committee in 1996.
"It began with an assembly of 800 plantation workers in the Bukit Raja estate," said Arutchelvam. "The Committee launched house-to-house campaigns in all the plantations in the country to garner support," he added.
The campaign also sought the intervention of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. "The committee made four attempts to reach the PM but we have not received any response from him," Arutchelvam said. "The committee, with more than 2,000 plantation workers, then decided to hold demonstrations outside the Parliament on April 19 this year."
The demonstration, however, proved unsuccessful when not a single MP from the government was willing to intervene on their behalf.
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