Saturday, December 8, 2018

MIGRANT WORKERS HOURS OF Work // MRC MTUC PENANG DIV.

PRESS RELEASE BY MTUC PENANG DIVISION - MIGRANT WORKERS HOURS OF WORK

The instances where workers, including migrant workers, working long hours is a reality that has prevailed in our country. The case, of the migrant workers of Top Glove toilling prolonged hours of work as reported by FMT, is but one such case. It is our view that it is just the tip of the iceberg.

The fact that workers in Malaysia work overtime and on their rest-day and even public holidays is a sad reflection of the economic pressure that they face as a result of the ever escalating cost of living that prevails in the country. Cases of workers doing more than one job is a openly known fact.

In the equation of wages in our country the migrant workers are entrapped in bondage as a result of the unjust charges that are imposed on them by uncaring recuirting agents or agencies in their country of origin. We, thus, call upon company's hiring migrant workers to ensure that it is
 done on a government to government basis so as to dispense with such recuirtment agents or agencies.

Working long hours, and by extension enhancing production,  results in a deterioration of workers physical and mental health.

If a worker works a 48 hours week he would have worked a total of 192 hours in a month. If he works the maximum permissible overtime of 104 hours per month he would have 296 hours per month - working out to total of 37 mandays a month! ( 296 ÷ 8 hours per day = 37 mandays worked over 30 days in a month).

It is our position that such an unjust situation must be eradicated! And we are of the conviction that it can only be done if wages are structured to confirm with a living wage standard.

Our nation ought to move away from the module of a minimum wage to that of a living wage i.e. a wage that would enable workers to meet their basic economic needs.

It is, therefore, MTUC Penang Division's demand that the National Minimum Wages Council be re-branded to that of a National Living Wage Council with the absolute jurisdiction to decide on a nation wide living wage. The powers, to decide on such living wage, vested with government, must be abolished as it makes no sense for the council's very establishment or existence!

K.VEERIAH
SECRETARY
MTUC PENANG DIVISION
016 4184520
7.12.2018