Tuesday, November 6, 2018

MALAYSIA::: CLAIM OF BONDED LABOUR IN BENTONG, PAHANG

PRESS RELEASE BY THE MALAYSIAN TRADES UNION CONGRESS PENANG DIVISION - CLAIM OF BONDED LABOUR IN BENTONG, PAHANG

MTUC Penang Division calls upon the police, and the Ministry Of Human Resources, to commence an immediate investigation in respect of the claim of bonded labour by a group of workers from Tamil Nadu, India.

The claim, by the workers concerned, would tantamount to modern day slavery which our country cannot condone as we  do not tolerate such uncivilsed and  immoral conduct by employers. The employers involved, if investigations establishes the fact of bonded labour, must be made to face the full force of the law.

The claim by the workers involved that they were intimidated with physical harm is criminal in nature and the authorities ought to establish if it was a fact and, if so, commence appropriate action thereof.

Workers, irregardless of whether they are citizens of the country or not,  must be accorded their rights to universally accepted labour standards. Any employer who behaves otherwise must be made accountable for their violiation of the law. They must pay for their crime!

MTUC Penang Division believes that the case in hand is only a dip in the ocean. We are also of the view that such cases occur because of weakness in the recuritment of migrant workers. On this score we welcome the Human Resources Minisrer's recent announcement of the termination of the middle man in employment of migrant workers. The said decision, we think, would eradicate the inhuman exploitation of migrant workers.

In conclusion we pray that the cause, of the Tamil Nadu bonded/slavery workers in Bentong Pahang, would not be sweept under the carpet by our police and the Ministry Of Human Resources.


K.VEERIAH
Secretary
Malaysian Trades Union Congress
Penang Division
0164184520
5.11.2018

Saturday, November 3, 2018

PRESS RELEASE BY THE MALAYSIAN TRADES UNION CONGRESS (MTUC) PENANG DIVISION - THE 2019 NATIONAL BUDGET

PRESS RELEASE BY THE MALAYSIAN TRADES UNION CONGRESS (MTUC) PENANG DIVISION - THE 2019 NATIONAL BUDGET

MTUC Penang Division wishes to express its appreciation with regards to the Pakatan Harapan government's budget declaration to undertake a review of all labour legislation affecting the country's workers - a committment that was never made by the previous government!

Whilst welcoming the said budget undertaking it is our view that it would be appropriate, for the government, to form a labour law reform commission compromising of labour law practitioners from the workers movement, employers, the bar council and others.

Given the fact that there has never been an attempt to undertake a complete revamp of the existing  labour legislations in the past,  we are convinced that a commission, mandated to overhaul the labour laws of the country, would be in order.

Laws, such as the Industrial Relations Act 1967, the Employment Act 1955, the Trade Union Act 1959, the Social Security Act 1969 etc, needs to be placed under a microsopic review so as to ensure that our government confirms with internationally accepted labour standards.

As an example, as to how out dated we are, is the Termination & Lay Off Regulations 1980 which has never seen a  change over the last 38 years! Under the said regulation workers who are terminated on account of a retrenchment exercise as an example are only entitled to a severance payment of: -

* 10 days wages for each year of service if employed for 12 months or more but less then 2 years

* 15 days wages for each year of service if employed for more then 2 years but less then 5 years and

* 20 days of wages for each year of service if employed for 5 years or more service.

This is only an illustration of the unjust labour protection that is accorded to the working population of the nation. It is , therefore, our demand that a labour law reform commission be instituted with the objective to review the existing labour laws of the country.

We, in the MTUC, are not jumping in joy with the announcement of a minimum wage of RM1,100 effective 1.1.2019! Our demand has always been, and we will never compromise on the issue, that the minimum wage cannot be lesser than RM1500.00! On this issue we must state that we are are disappointed, with the lack of political will by the Pakatan Harapan, on the matter.

The Hon. Minister's announcement that an Appeal Indistrial Court would be constitued is welcomed. As a matter of fact such a proposition was formulated, by industrial realtions practitioners, for a long time. 

In conclusion we wish to record our appreciation to the government's proactive measures to assist the B40 citizens of the country all of whom are from the working class.

K.Veeriah
Secretary
MTUC Penang Division
016 4184520
2.11.2018



Friday, November 2, 2018

Malaysia :::"monopolisation and manipulation" of recruitment of workers from Bangladesh.

PRESS STATEMENT FROM MTUC PENANG DIVISION

MTUC Penang Division refers to the FMT  posting of today, with regards to the "monopolisation and manipulation" of recruitment of workers from Bangaldesh, and is shocked with  the revelation that Malaysian politicians and officials were paid bribes in the employment of workers from that country. It is also shocking that even Human Resoucres managers were bribed in the exercise!

We take cognisance of FMT's posting, citing the Daily Star newspaper of Bangladesh, as the source in the said matter.

According to the said newspaper's report the then home affairs minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi placed the monopoly, given to an IT company Synerflux, under the Official Secrets Act of our country.

MTUC Penang Division had registered its objection, to such an unjustified abuse of the home minister's power even then - see FMT posting of 17.3.2016 "Placing workers related contract under OSA a smoke screen".

In the light of this latest exposure MTUC Penang Division calls upon the authorities to, immediately, commence investigations to identify the goverment officials, human resourses managers and anyone else who were implicated in the matter. And, in our view, such investigations must include the then home minister YB Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and even government officials who have left service.

If the Daily Star of Bangladesh's report is of substances,  it would stand as testimony to the fact that workers of that country were subjected to exploitation that can only be best described as bonded labour and, that too, for the enrichment of politicians and civil servants of Malaysia.

MTUC Penang Division, having taken notice that the Dhaka High Court of Bangladesh, has ordered that an inter ministeral committee be form to investigate the matter with a deadline of 6 months hopes that the same urgency be adpoted by our government in the matter.

In conclusion MTUC Penang Division wishes to extend our salutations to the Daily Star newspaper of Bangladesh for its exposure of the said issue.


K.Veeriah
Secretary
Malaysian Trades Union Congress
Penang Division
016 4184529
1.11.2018