Grassroots movement Jerit's Plantation Workers Support Committee (JSLM) is unhappy with Malaysian Agricultural Producers Association's (Mapa) to offer a RM1.40 increment to the current daily wages of plantation workers.

It wants to know what is the rationale behind the increment especially when the current situation shows very high inflation rate.

JSLM also expressed disappointment with National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) which initially asked Mapa to consider giving a RM2 wage increase to plantation workers.

Y Kohila of Jerit opined that the increment of RM1.40 or RM2.00 is ridiculous in view of the current standard of living.

"World market prices for palm oil and rubber are high, yet plantation owners are hesitating to give a reasonable wage increment for their workers," she added.

JSLM feels that it is more reasonable if plantation workers like rubber tappers are given a monthly salary of RM750. At present rubber tappers are paid RM11.50 per working day.

Kohila also expressed her disappointment with the government's attitude of keeping quiet over the matter.

"The government says that it cannot do anything, but in reality the government is the main shareholder of most plantation companies in the country," she said.

Lose everything, gain nothing

Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) which is wholly owned by the government, is the main shareholder of many plantations in Malaysia.

"Why are the plantation workers being treated differently from workers of other industries?" asked Kohila.

Plantation workers, she said, are losing everything but gaining nothing.

"In other industries, if a day's work is disrupted by rain or fire, it will not affect the workers as they will still get their pay, but in plantation workers' case, if it rains and they are not able to work, they have to bear the losses as they will not be paid for that day," said Kohila.

"The plantations will pocket the profits, but the workers have to bear the losses."

Kohila stressed that there should be a change in the wages of plantation workers.

"The government should not discriminate and oppress these people just because they are plantation workers," she added.

NUPW general-secretary G Shankaran said its unfair of Mapa to give only RM1.40 increment to plantation workers.

"We faced a deadlock in the discussion with Mapa and we're going to court," he said when contacted.

"We're only asking for RM2 increment. This is not impossible especially now when the price of rubber in the world market is so high," he added.

The Human Resources Ministry could not be reached for comments on the matter.