About 50,000 contract employees in the civil service are facing the possibility of being retrenched by the end of this year, according to the Congress of Union Employees in the Public and Civil Service (Cuepacs).

Cuepacs president Omar Osman told Malaysiakini that the tenure of many contract employees have not been extended. The reasons for this are stated as being related to performance and productivity.

Asked if this was related to budget constraints, Osman said he believes there is no longer an allocation for such employees.

However, the Cuepacs president refused to accept this excuse as he is certain that the government can still afford the contract employees.

cuepacs omar osman 181007 “The possibility of the retrenchment occurring due to the government having no allocation for contract based workers is there but this no reason for this to happen as I believe that the government can still maintain their employment,” he added.

Following this, Cuepacs is expected to meet with officials from the Civil Service Department (JPA) after the body’s congressional meeting on Nov 14 to 16 in Kota Kinabalu to seek explanation on the matter.

“Cuepacs will also meet with all contract-based civil servants from Kelantan on Nov 6 to gather more information on the matter,” he said, adding that meetings with civil servants from other states will follow suit.

Employment status changed to part timers

Omar also revealed that prior to learning about the matter, his side had held a meeting with JPA to discuss on ways to integrate contract-based civil servants into permanent staff but added that the idea would require approval and permission from their current employers.

He also learnt that some contract-based workers yet to receive their letter of termination have had their employment status changed to part-time employment.

civil servants 200404 “Cuepacs feels that this is an act to smoothen the process of terminating their contracts in the future (as part of the retrenchment programme),” he said.

Omar added that civil servants affected by the programme have worked for the government for more than 15 years.

One of the ways to resolve the matter was to maintain their status as contract-based workers until their retirement age instead of having their employment status changed to a permanent status.

“Or the government can look for other mechanisms to deal with the matter so that these workers can have their employment maintained in their respective departments,” he said.