Minimum wage picket to continue till demand met
Syed Jaymal ZahiidPublished: Aug 2, 2007 7:43 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The Malaysian Trade Unions Congress will launch its second nationwide picket on Aug 8 to oppose the government's reluctance in enacting a minimum wage law for workers in the private sector.
The Malaysian Trade Unions Congress will launch its second nationwide picket on Aug 8 to oppose the government's reluctance in enacting a minimum wage law for workers in the private sector.
The picket will also be held to show the union's opposition to the proposed amendments to the Trade Unions Bill and the Industrial Relations Bill which the union claimed will not benefit workers.
MTUC financial secretary A Sivananthan today told a press conference that the union was adamant in fighting for the rights of all workers in the country.
The union, which represents 500,000 workers, is seeking a minimum wage of RM900 and RM300 cost of living allowance (Cola) for the private sector.
"The demand for the minimum wage law is not a new thing. We have been calling for it since eight to ten years ago," he said.
"The Human Resource minister had set up a commission of enquiry to probe into this after the first picket was held and a wage council was supposedly set up to look into its feasibility but we will tell them that we reject the commission of enquiry," he added.
The government has rejected the call for a minimum wage on the grounds that it would only attract more foreign workers and that it would not benefit all companies.
However the government agreed to look into the possibilities of setting a minimum salary for some private sector workers.
PKR's support
Sivananthan also said that the proposed amendments to the labour laws would only benefit the employers as it will provide them with the necessary means to sack workers indefinitely.
"There was no consultation whatsoever with us on the amendments of the bills and this is an act that deviates with the harmony of the tripartite system and democratic value of consultation," he said.
He said MTUC would demand for the drafted amendments not to be brought to Parliament through picketing until all the necessary actors are immediately consulted.
Last month, MTUC staged a nationwide picket in 14 locations after discussions with the government for a minimum wage came to a deadlock.
Meanwhile PKR also threw its weight behind MTUC in making these demands to the government.
"We feel that the introduction of the minimum salary is the easiest way to eradicate poverty in this country," said PKR Secretary General Khalid Ibrahim in the same press conference.
He said that the party would urge its members to join forces with MTUC to picket on Aug 8.
The picket will also be held to show the union's opposition to the proposed amendments to the Trade Unions Bill and the Industrial Relations Bill which the union claimed will not benefit workers.
MTUC financial secretary A Sivananthan today told a press conference that the union was adamant in fighting for the rights of all workers in the country. The union, which represents 500,000 workers, is seeking a minimum wage of RM900 and RM300 cost of living allowance (Cola) for the private sector.
"The demand for the minimum wage law is not a new thing. We have been calling for it since eight to ten years ago," he said.
"The Human Resource minister had set up a commission of enquiry to probe into this after the first picket was held and a wage council was supposedly set up to look into its feasibility but we will tell them that we reject the commission of enquiry," he added.
The government has rejected the call for a minimum wage on the grounds that it would only attract more foreign workers and that it would not benefit all companies.
However the government agreed to look into the possibilities of setting a minimum salary for some private sector workers.
PKR's support
Sivananthan also said that the proposed amendments to the labour laws would only benefit the employers as it will provide them with the necessary means to sack workers indefinitely.
"There was no consultation whatsoever with us on the amendments of the bills and this is an act that deviates with the harmony of the tripartite system and democratic value of consultation," he said. He said MTUC would demand for the drafted amendments not to be brought to Parliament through picketing until all the necessary actors are immediately consulted.
Last month, MTUC staged a nationwide picket in 14 locations after discussions with the government for a minimum wage came to a deadlock.
Meanwhile PKR also threw its weight behind MTUC in making these demands to the government.
"We feel that the introduction of the minimum salary is the easiest way to eradicate poverty in this country," said PKR Secretary General Khalid Ibrahim in the same press conference.
He said that the party would urge its members to join forces with MTUC to picket on Aug 8.
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