It is clear that the crisis of world capitalism is resulting in ever-smaller economic cycles. Just last year, we were told that we were out of the woods and the year before that, we were at the tail end of the financial crisis that shattered the economy.

Now we are bracing for a recession that is hitting a wider section of Malaysian industries than in 1997. Our dependence on the US market, the profligate spending by the government, the emphasis on profits before people, the protection of cronies' interests before national interest and the wanton use of the Malaysian workers' Employees Provident Funds (EPF), these all point to the need for Malaysian workers to demand fundamental reforms in this new era.

EPF Board reform

Last year, we witnessed the scandal of the loss of EPF funds in the LRT project. This year, we have seen yet another scandal regarding the abuse of EPF funds to boost up a dubious Time Dotcom public offer at the KLSE.

The annual dividends declared by EPF get progressively lower and lower. The use and abuse of this RM160 billion fund belonging to 10 million Malaysian workers for questionable investments has been going on for as long as we have had Malaysia Boleh mega-projects.

It has been squandered by so-called entrepreneurs who cannot manage to raise financing from the banks. These lame-duck companies, cronies of the power elite have been offered 'soft' loans to help them out.

It is clear that Malaysian workers' rights are not safeguarded by the supposed workers' representatives on the EPF board, who must be held responsible for allowing such abuse to happen and for not alerting the workers.

May Day 2001 must be the final straw. Today's Malaysian workers' agenda must be to demand a fundamental reform of the composition and working of the EPF Board. There must be a disclosure policy to let workers know the kinds of investments EPF Board has put our money. Let this be the agenda of the workers' unions to be satisfactorily settled before the year runs out.

Retrenchment and retraining scheme

With the looming recession, May Day 2001 is an appropriate time for workers to demand a New Deal to ensure that retrenched workers' interests are safeguarded through a National Retrenchment Scheme for better retrenchment benefits and more opportunities for retraining. This should be the joint responsibility of the Government and private companies. Workers should ensure this demand is incorporated in their union demands and election pledges of political parties.

Solidarity and poverty eradication

The recent racial riots at Petaling Jaya Selatan are a reminder to workers of the need to forge workers' solidarity which is the best solution to combat racism and racial discrimination in this country. The Government's policy of concentrating on racial restructuring of corporate equity yet again in the NEP and now the OPP3 is not in the workers' interests but only promotes racial discrimination and the interests of the rich and well-connected.

Plantation workers' monthly wage

The lack of political will by the Government to implement decent monthly wages for plantation workers is another indicator of their lack of commitment to poverty eradication. Plantation workers not only suffer from low daily-rated wages but also inadequate housing, amenities and health services. They are often the victims of forced evictions when the plantation owners sell off to other developers.

Living minimum wage

If the Government is genuinely concerned about abolishing poverty and raising the living standards of all Malaysians, they should seriously implement a living wage as the minimum wage for all workers as has also been demanded by the MTUC.

Women workers equality

Women are still concentrated in the lower rungs of the workplace hierarchy, in semi-skilled and unskilled production work. Women in the various sectors further face sexual harassment at work, a problem which is inadequately addressed. The labour movement must demand that women's equality and other demands such as public child care provisions be put on the national agenda.

Migrant workers' rights

While the rights of Malaysian workers must be protected through upgrading of wages and skills and investment policy, migrant workers in the country must be given the right to freedom of association and accorded the same dignity and rights as workers all over the world.

Improved public services

We reiterate that there should be no privatisation of basic social amenities such as public health services and Malaysian workers expect better public health, transport, education and social services. It is time to institute a Utilities Commission to regulate water, electricity and other utility rates.

Genuine democracy and accountability

There must be genuine participatory democracy, accountability and empowerment of workers through collective leadership. The sell out by so-called workers' representatives on the EPF Board should be a painful lesson to all workers of the cost of non-accountability and transparency.

Basic freedoms

Workers must regain their basic freedoms of personal security, expression, assembly and association by demanding the repeal of all oppressive laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA). These freedoms are integral to the safeguarding of workers' rights in the economic sphere.

DR KUA KIA SOONG is the director of the social activist group, Suaram.