Isu Gaji Minima Yang Dikemukan Di Dewan Rakyat

SOALAN:

IR. HAJI HAMIM BIN SAMURI (Ledang) meminta MENTERI SUMBER MANUSIA menyatakan bilakah kerajaan akan menguatkuasakan gaji minima dalam semua sektor pekerjaan memandangkan permintaan kuat keatasnya sekarang.

JAWAPAN: YB MENTERI SUMBER MANUSIA

Kadar gaji sektor swasta di negara ini ditentukan mengikut kuasa pasaran(market forces). Penetapan ini dibuat berdasarkan kepada permintaan dan penawaran(supply and demand). Ini bagi memastikan negara sentiasa kompetitif dalam persaingan ekonomi diperingkat global. Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Yearbook pada tahun 2007 melaporkan bahawa kedudukan Malaysia adalah di tempat ke-23 daripada 55 buah negara dari aspek daya saing. Berdasarkan kepada laporan tersebut, kedudukan ini perlu diperbaiki dan elemen-elemen peningkatan kos tanpa peningkatan produktiviti perlu dielakkan.

Tiga cara yang digunapakai oleh kerajaan untuk penetapan gaji adalah melalui kuasa pasaran (market forces), Perjanjian Kolektif(Collective Agreement) dan Majlis Penetapan Gaji(MPG). Majlis Penetapan Gaji ditubuhkan di bawah Akta Majlis Penetapan Gaji 1947 bagi golongan pekerja yang mudah terjejas (vulnerable) iaitu yang bekerja di sektor di mana tiada satu mekanisma yang berkesan dalam menetapkan gaji dan syarat pekerjaan. Sehingga kini, kerajaan telah menubuhkan 11 MPG yang akan menetapkan gaji minima dan syarat-syarat pekerjaan bagi golongan pekerja dalam sektor-sektor yang ditentukan. Kerajaan akan sentiasa mengkaji dan menentukan gaji minima mengikut sektor pekerjaan, sekiranya terdapat keperluan untuk penubuhan tersebut.

Kerajaan berpendapat bahawa penetapan gaji minima kebangsaan (National MinimumWage) untuk semua sektor pekerjaan adalah kurang wajar pada masa ini. Ini kerana sebarang peningkatan kos dalam menjalankan perniagaan di Malaysia akan menjejaskan daya saing negara dalam menarik pelaburan asing ke Malaysia dan mengekalkan pelabur-pelabur sedia ada.

Selaras dengan hasrat agenda pembangunan negara, kerajaan sedang mempromosikan sistem upah yang dikaitkan dengan produktiviti (Productivity Linked Wages System-PLWS). Dasar ini bertujuan menjamin daya saing negara di samping menyumbang kepada peningkatan kualiti hidup pekerja.

MTUC’s comment

Trade unions are thankful to YB IR Haji Hamim Bin Samuri for expressing concerns on government’s failure to establish a national minimum wage for all workers in the country.

Human Resources Minister’s response is illogical and ridiculous.

Human Resources Minister is concerned that world Competitiveness Year Book has listed Malaysia at 23^rd place out of 55 countries and he has stressed the need to improve that.

Is the Human Resources Minister suggesting that wage levels should be further reduced?

Human Resources Minister in his reply to Hj Hamim has stated that Malaysia has established 11 wages councils, especially to help workers in vulnerable sectors. He has said “Government will always study, review and determine minimum wages’.

Let us review how our government has reviewed the minimum wages set by wages councils over the last 25 years.

Sectors with a Minimum Wage

• Hotel and catering- Minimum monthly wage of RM 185 for those 18 years and above since 1982.
  
• Cinema workers- Minimum monthly wage of RM 175 for tickets sellers, mechanics, technicians, electricians and carpenters for cinemas with four daily showings since 1981.
  
• Cargo handlers and lighter men- Minimum monthly wage of RM 120 for hatch men since 1977.
  
• Shop assistants- Minimum monthly wage of RM 250 for those 21 years and above in the Klang Valley since 1981.

It is obvious government has turned a blind eye to the plight of workers under the above sectors. They have failed miserably in managing the wages councils. Human Resources Minister has stated that a National Minimum wage for all sectors is not necessary.

Is the cost of fuel different depending on the sector one is employed? Is the cost of food and essential commodities made available at different prices dependent on the sector one is employed?

Government claims that wage levels have to be suppressed in order not increase the cost of doing business. How will the new electricity tariffs effect the cost of production and competitiveness? Has the Government given thought to the far reaching implications on the industries?

MTUC urge the Government to be more logical and considerate.

G.Rajasekaran
Secretary General MTUC

Fuel Hike - There will be inflation and the standard of living will go down

“The Government has now announced an increase in petrol price by 78 sen to RM2.70 per litre, an increase of more than 40 per cent.

I may be mistaken but there seems to be fewer vehicles on the road today. But obviously that is not all that will happen. All other consumer goods, services and luxury goods would increase in price.

The cost of living must go up. Put another way there will be inflation and the standard of living will go down.

Obviously our increase in petrol price is far less than in the United Kingdom or the United States. But our per capita income is about one-third of theirs. In purchasing power terms our increase is more than in the UK or the US.

The increase hurts but the pain is greater not just because of the increase percentage-wise is higher than in developed countries but because of the manner the increase is made.”

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohd

June 5, 2005

Malaysians know that in the 22 years as PM, Mahathir never imposed an exorbitant hike on fuel price. He understood its implications and his responsibility to the people. Unfortunately Abdullah believes only his rhetoric. On Saturday he said ‘steps to be taken to ensure prices of essential goods remain affordable”. Even before the 40 per cent hike, price of rice, a staple food of Malaysians, went up by almost 50 percent. Domestic Trade Minister Datuk Sharir is reported to have assured Malaysians that prices of fuel will stay until March.

After watching the events of the past 10 days Sharir’s assurance is unbelievable.

Maintaining the subsidy would not hurt the Government finances

“Roughly Malaysia produces 650,000 barrels of crude per day. We consume 400,000 barrels leaving 250,000 barrels to be exported.

Our 250,000 barrels of export should earn us 250,000 x 100 x 365 x 3 = RM27,375,000,000 (twenty seven billion Ringgit).

But Petronas made a profit of well over RM70 billion, all of which belong to the Government.

By all accounts the Government is flushed with money.

But besides petrol the prices of palm oil, rubber and tin have also increased by about 400 per cent. Plantation companies and banks now earn as much as RM3 billion in profits each. Taxes paid by them must have also increased greatly.

I feel sure that maintaining the subsidy and gradually decreasing it would not hurt the Government finances.”

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohd

June 5, 2008

9^th June 2008

Discrimination of Retirement Age

Dear Saudari,

Thank you for your message regarding retirement age for employees in the private sector. No response from PM. Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has not even acknowledged our March 2007 memorandum on retirement age. By now we have come to realise that Abdullah believes rhetorics rather than action.

Abdullah makes it appear that he is the Prime Minister for Public Sector only and insofar as wages and working conditions for the private sector he has to seek the approval of large corporations, especially Multinational Corporations. He thinks if he makes any move without their consent they will punish him by not investing in Malaysia.

It is most unfortunate that we have a PM who is most inconsiderate. We would probably be better off seeking the support of the Human Resources Minister and that has to be MTUC's stretegy to resolve this issue. We would also seek the support of Parliament, especially members of Pakatan Rakyat.

Best Regards.

G. Rajasekaran
www.grajasekaran.blogspot.com


On 6/2/08, Normah Bahari wrote:


Tuan Syed Shahir bin Syed Mohamud - MTUC President
Mr G. Rajasekaran - MTUC Secretary General

Sirs ,

Since the Memorandum for Extension of Retirement Age sent to Prime Minister in March 2007 , there is not much said about it.

Public Sectors Workers have been granted Extension of Compulsory Retirement Age effective 1/7/2008.
Malaysian Employers Federation have given statement they prefer 55 Years for Private Sectors Workers.
MEF do not care . MEF priorities are Investors and Employers . MEF will make sure Employers get maximum advantage at the expense of Employees .

How about MTUC ? MTUC CARES AND WILL FIGHT FOR WORKERS ....

Private Sectors Workers have been treated like Second Class Citizen . Every Malaysian have their share of Contributions towards Country Growth and Developments and Government should recognise that . Private Sectors Workers are being denied and deprived many benefits enjoyed by Public Sectors Workers.

Extension of Compulsory Retirement Age for Workers should be implemented immediately and Legislate for all workers of Malaysia .

MTUC have to fight the above Issue for the Working Class . Memorandum for Extension of Retirement Age should be sent to Parliament to be heard . Employment Act on Retirement Age should be Amended immediately .

All Labours of Malaysia should have Common Retirement Age .


Private Sectors Workers NEED JUSTICE and MTUC will champion all Private Sectors Workers plights..

Thank you and regards.
Normah Bahari

Petrol Price RM 2.70 – up 41%, Electricity tariffs up from July 1

Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi has now established himself as the most inconsiderate and uncaring Prime Minister of the country.

Abdullah has shocked the nation with a 41% increase in the price of petrol. With the global increase Malaysians generally expected some increase soon but no one expected the rise from RM 1.92 to RM 2.70 per litre.

To make the burden even more severe, Government has approved TNB’s plan to raise electricity tariffs from July 1. Just a day earlier Government announced the removal of ceiling price on chicken and allows traders to manipulate as they wish.

Malaysia has a petroleum exporting country substantially benefit from the sharp increase in the price of petroleum in the world market and all Malaysians have the right to expect their Government to use part of the increased petroleum profits to subsidize the price of petrol.

Government’s announcement demonstrates their uncaring approach. The steep increase not only will affect our driving habits but will have a serious spiraling effect on cost of transport, food, other commodities and generally have an impact on our standard of living.

It is easy for Abdullah to shout from the ivory towers that Malaysians should change their lifestyle and learn to bear the burden imposed on them calmly because the tax payers make sure that the PM’s lifestyle is not affected in anyway.

Wages

Having imposed an unbearable burden o the people a caring Prime Minister would have taken the trouble to advise the employers in the private sector to urgently consider a special wage increase or a cost of living allowance. Unfortunately Abdullah did not even utter a word on the matter.

Widespread abuse of VSS by employers

“Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr. S. Subramaniam has warned companies not to use voluntary separation schemes (VSS) to replace staff with foreign workers” - .

NST 4 June 2008

Employers, especially MNCs are taking undue advantage of Government’s flexible policies. French multinational company Lafarge Cement in Rawang announced a voluntary separation scheme (VSS) to reduce the workforce. When the company found that applicants for so called VSS fell short of three persons, despite numerous appeals by the union, company terminated the two long serving employees as well.

Having eliminated 23 workers the company invited contractors to bring in 30 workers and run the operation.

British American Tobacco

Tobacco giant, British American Tobacco carried out VSS exercise to eliminate 15 employees from the maintenance section. Eight employees did not apply to leave under the VSS and expressed their preference to continue working.

BAT terminated the 8 and appointed a contractor to bring in workers to manage the maintenance section. Union believes that the outsourced system cost BAT more.

HR Minister must make good on his promise to stop such abuse.

In 1998 Govt established procedures under the Employment Act to require employers to notify the nearest Labour Department of any termination, including under VSS.

Are the employers complying with this requirement? What does the Labour Department do to ensure that retrenchments are genuine? Trade unions have complained that the Labour Department does not make a genuine effort to investigate the termination exercise. Labour Department’s indifference over a long period of time has encouraged unscrupulous employers to act in breach of Labour Laws and policies.

Working from home to increase women participation in the workforce

The suggestion by Human Resources Minister to allow working from home concept deserves consideration. It is not an impossible plan – this has been implemented in many developed countries.

As ably argued by Datuk Dr. Subramaniam, this concept will increase women participation in the workforce. This will also help to address the ever rising graduate unemployment figures.

Many developed countries also see this as a way to cut costs of office rentals. If properly and fairly implemented this approach can also reduce government’s effort to reduce dependency on foreign workers.

Wages Councils to determine Minimum Wage

Since 1949 MTUC has demanded that Government establish a national minimum wage. However, this issue was prominently highlighted by MTUC since 1998 and again in June 2007.

Human Resources Minister is now saying that Government prefers to establish wages councils to study and fix minimum wage rates on a sectorial basis.

Sectors with a Minimum Wage

v Hotel and catering (amended in 1982) Minimum monthly wage of RM 185 for those 18 years and above.

v Cinema workers (amended in 1981) Minimum monthly wage of RM 175 for tickets sellers, mechanics, technicians, electricians and carpenters for cinemas with four daily showings.

v Cargo handlers and lightermen (amended in 1977) Minimum monthly wage of RM 120 for hatchmen.

v Shop assistants (amended in 1981) Minimum monthly wage of RM 250 for those 21 years and above in the Klang Valley.

MTUC has strong reservations on the practicability of wages councils. Looking at the table here above it is not difficult to comprehend the reasons for MTUC’s suspicion and concern. The existing wages councils have remained dormant (even dead) for 25 to 30 years.

Notwithstanding the bad experience, trade unions in the country would be prepared to consider HR Minister’s proposal as a way to resolve this longstanding issue.

A number of unions representing workers in the manufacturing sector feel that the Minister should immediately set up a wages council for the manufacturing sector. This will extend to more than 2 million workers in the country and be the forerunner to set up a decent minimum wage.