Workers: Don't insult our intelligence
Claudia TheophilusPublished: Mar 4, 2006 8:19 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The labour movement wants employers to consider a minimum RM150 salary increment across the board to cushion workers against the impending rise in the cost of living in the coming weeks.
Workers, most affected segment of society in the recent fuel price hike, are upset with the government's justification and remarks which they feel is belittling the public's intelligence.
The labour movement wants employers to consider a minimum RM150 salary increment across the board to cushion workers against the impending rise in the cost of living in the coming weeks.
Malaysia Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said this will be conveyed by affiliate unions in the respective sectors.
"We will send a memorandum to the prime minister, cabinet ministers, members of Parliament and political party leaders outlining arguments against the price increase in petrol, diesel and gas as well as the upcoming hike in electricity tariff.
"Over the last 12 months, the price of petrol and petroleum products have increased manifold, and consumers have borne the cost," he said after the General Council emergency meeting Friday in Subang Jaya.
Parliament reconvenes in 10 days
The 21-member council is the MTUC's highest decision-making body comprising representatives from the public and private sector unions throughout the country.
The MTUC, whose membership stands at over half a million workers, plans to lead a huge gathering with the support of various concerned groups and hopes the public will show their full support by turning up when the details are finalised.
On Feb 27, the government announced a 30 sen hike per liter of petrol and diesel, and per kilogramme of gas.
Food traders and hawkers have reportedly started to increase their prices.
Syed Shahir said that even if small traders, hawkers and kuih sellers maintained their pricing, there is still concern over possible compromises to quality and size/portion of food items.
He was also peeved with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's statement during an interview Thursday asking Malaysians to change their lifestyles accordingly.
"What does he exactly mean by that? What else is there to change? As it is, people are only spending what they have. Is he suggesting that we should have one daily meal now instead of three?"
Many parents, he said, will be forced to compromise on decisions including how much pocket money they can afford to give their schoolgoing children.
"It's become common for people especially in the Klang Valley to take on more than one job to afford rental and loans for their car and house but they lose on quality time as they hardly see each other."
Syed Shahir said several council members had questioned the management of Petronas over sponsorships of the Formula 1 events, a billion-ringgit industry.
"There were suggestions that at the appropriate time, we launch a symbolic protest where every worker only fills up 30 sen worth of petrol. We're considering this idea because we need to study the practicality of it," he said.
On the government's plans to introduce the goods and services tax, he said the petrol price had only served to delay its implementation.
Several council members, clearly incensed over Najib's remarks, slammed politicians, ministers and consumer groups for mouthing the "unjustifiable grounds and reasons".
Drawing on personal experiences, they related how a Kancil drank RM38 for a full tank from RM30 previously and petrol cost of a Perdana that went from RM55 for a full tank to RM70 and now RM90.
National Union of Bank Employees general-secretary J Solomon:
The government is merciless in its decision and arrogant in its explanation. (Najib's) explanation to change our lifestyle is unacceptable to any ordinary Malaysian.
Both the PM and DPM should stop misleading the public and treat people this way. The justifications made by the ministers are simply unbelievable. They are clearly taking us for fools. Do they think we are that stupid?
We hope banks will consider a Cost of Living Allowance (Cola) for their employees. In fact, we had asked for Cola last year to be included in the collective agreement but it was rejected.
I used to fill my Waja to full tank with RM50, then RM60 on to RM70 and now RM100 does not ensure a full tank.
The banking sector is badly affected as almost everyone uses private vehicles. In addition, many banks are closing down their branches and transferring employees to branches farther away. In most places, the public transportation is either unreliable or non-existent.
MTUC secretary-general G Rajasekaran:
Given the state of public transportation, if you don't own a transport, you risk being sacked for coming in late for work. It would have been a different story if the facilities were already in place before fuel prices are raised.
The cabinet should set the example by using local cars that consumes less petrol, maybe a Kancil. In the next few weeks, we are going to see an all-round increase in prices including items supplied by fishermen, farmers and petty traders.
Also, where are Petronas' profits going to? The savings on fuel subsidy of several billions is nothing compared to the tens of billions of ringgit Petronas earns.
MTUC vice-president (private sector) K Brabakarun:
We represent 14,100 members Non-Metallic Mineral Products Manufacturing Employees Union working in 124 companies. Let's take a family of five and an average monthly income of RM800. Over the last three years, fuel prices have increased 40 to 50 percent.
These workers could only afford motorcycles but the fuel prices have gone up by almost half, so how are they going to survive when their real wages have shrunk significantly, by about 40 percent?
We have no confidence in the government's Consumer Price Index because the figures have remained the same despite several hikes in fuel prices. We're very sure the actual index is not reflected in the government's statistics.
MTUC vice-president (private sector) Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid:
We have 7,000 members in the Peninsular Malaysia Club Employees Union and we think the hike is scary, unreasonable and further widens the income-expenditure gap.
The hike is crazy especially when Malaysia is an oil producer. But how is it that Brunei and Arab Saudi can afford low fuel prices? The Malaysian government is not transparent about something so essential.
Najib is advising people not to be ashamed of using public transportation such as the LRT but does he know that the LRT does not run through the industrial areas in Shah Alam and in other states?
Malaysia Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said this will be conveyed by affiliate unions in the respective sectors. "We will send a memorandum to the prime minister, cabinet ministers, members of Parliament and political party leaders outlining arguments against the price increase in petrol, diesel and gas as well as the upcoming hike in electricity tariff.
"Over the last 12 months, the price of petrol and petroleum products have increased manifold, and consumers have borne the cost," he said after the General Council emergency meeting Friday in Subang Jaya.
Parliament reconvenes in 10 days
The 21-member council is the MTUC's highest decision-making body comprising representatives from the public and private sector unions throughout the country.
The MTUC, whose membership stands at over half a million workers, plans to lead a huge gathering with the support of various concerned groups and hopes the public will show their full support by turning up when the details are finalised.
On Feb 27, the government announced a 30 sen hike per liter of petrol and diesel, and per kilogramme of gas.
Food traders and hawkers have reportedly started to increase their prices.
Syed Shahir said that even if small traders, hawkers and kuih sellers maintained their pricing, there is still concern over possible compromises to quality and size/portion of food items.
He was also peeved with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's statement during an interview Thursday asking Malaysians to change their lifestyles accordingly.
"What does he exactly mean by that? What else is there to change? As it is, people are only spending what they have. Is he suggesting that we should have one daily meal now instead of three?"
Many parents, he said, will be forced to compromise on decisions including how much pocket money they can afford to give their schoolgoing children.
"It's become common for people especially in the Klang Valley to take on more than one job to afford rental and loans for their car and house but they lose on quality time as they hardly see each other."
Syed Shahir said several council members had questioned the management of Petronas over sponsorships of the Formula 1 events, a billion-ringgit industry.
"There were suggestions that at the appropriate time, we launch a symbolic protest where every worker only fills up 30 sen worth of petrol. We're considering this idea because we need to study the practicality of it," he said.
On the government's plans to introduce the goods and services tax, he said the petrol price had only served to delay its implementation.
Several council members, clearly incensed over Najib's remarks, slammed politicians, ministers and consumer groups for mouthing the "unjustifiable grounds and reasons".
Drawing on personal experiences, they related how a Kancil drank RM38 for a full tank from RM30 previously and petrol cost of a Perdana that went from RM55 for a full tank to RM70 and now RM90.
National Union of Bank Employees general-secretary J Solomon: The government is merciless in its decision and arrogant in its explanation. (Najib's) explanation to change our lifestyle is unacceptable to any ordinary Malaysian.
Both the PM and DPM should stop misleading the public and treat people this way. The justifications made by the ministers are simply unbelievable. They are clearly taking us for fools. Do they think we are that stupid?
We hope banks will consider a Cost of Living Allowance (Cola) for their employees. In fact, we had asked for Cola last year to be included in the collective agreement but it was rejected.
I used to fill my Waja to full tank with RM50, then RM60 on to RM70 and now RM100 does not ensure a full tank.
The banking sector is badly affected as almost everyone uses private vehicles. In addition, many banks are closing down their branches and transferring employees to branches farther away. In most places, the public transportation is either unreliable or non-existent.
MTUC secretary-general G Rajasekaran: Given the state of public transportation, if you don't own a transport, you risk being sacked for coming in late for work. It would have been a different story if the facilities were already in place before fuel prices are raised.
The cabinet should set the example by using local cars that consumes less petrol, maybe a Kancil. In the next few weeks, we are going to see an all-round increase in prices including items supplied by fishermen, farmers and petty traders.
Also, where are Petronas' profits going to? The savings on fuel subsidy of several billions is nothing compared to the tens of billions of ringgit Petronas earns.
MTUC vice-president (private sector) K Brabakarun:
We represent 14,100 members Non-Metallic Mineral Products Manufacturing Employees Union working in 124 companies. Let's take a family of five and an average monthly income of RM800. Over the last three years, fuel prices have increased 40 to 50 percent.
These workers could only afford motorcycles but the fuel prices have gone up by almost half, so how are they going to survive when their real wages have shrunk significantly, by about 40 percent?
We have no confidence in the government's Consumer Price Index because the figures have remained the same despite several hikes in fuel prices. We're very sure the actual index is not reflected in the government's statistics.
MTUC vice-president (private sector) Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid:
We have 7,000 members in the Peninsular Malaysia Club Employees Union and we think the hike is scary, unreasonable and further widens the income-expenditure gap.
The hike is crazy especially when Malaysia is an oil producer. But how is it that Brunei and Arab Saudi can afford low fuel prices? The Malaysian government is not transparent about something so essential.
Najib is advising people not to be ashamed of using public transportation such as the LRT but does he know that the LRT does not run through the industrial areas in Shah Alam and in other states?
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