MTUC: Workers may demonstrate over minimum wage delay

KUALA LUMPUR : The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) warns the government of a possible demonstration by local and migrant workers if the Cabinet allows the minimum wage for foreign workers to be postponed.

MTUC "will not allow the deferment to happen", its president Mohd Khalid Atan told fz.com in a phone interview, as it believes that it is grossly unfair to have two different policies for workers in Malaysia.

"Why are we discriminating against the migrant workers? They come here and do the same job and have the same responsibilities as our local workers. All this while we heard the SME groups have been demonstrating here and there.

"We heard they have demonstrated even in front of the Ministry. Because of this, the government is backtracking whatever has been decided and is bowing down to the demand of the SMEs. The workers group and foreign workers have our rights too.

"We can demonstrate as well. Both the local and foreign workers will be hand-in-hand in demonstrating. We will deliberate on this in our General Council Meeting," said Khalid. He stressed that this is a "very serious decision".

When asked whether the Cabinet's decision could be politically motivated due to the upcoming elections, Khalid pointed out that the government should never reverse its policies, regardless of the situation.

"It doesn't matter if the foreign workers can't vote because everyone should be treated equally on this matter. If the implementation of the minimum wage is supposed to be on Jan 1, 2013, it should be implemented and executed on Jan 1, 2013.

"What I believe the government should do is grant deferment on a case by case basis to companies which are in a critical condition and even then it must be justified. Without justifications and documentation, deferment should not be given.

"We don't agree to any blanket policy on deferring the minimum wage for migrant workers," said Khalid.