Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
The call emerged after a meeting, believed to be the first of its kind, between
more than 20 representatives of residents associations, rights activist groups,
opposition political parties and the trade union umbrella body today.
<p>Last week, the MTUC slammed the government’s cavalier attitude in attempting
to explain the reduction in fuel subsidy, contending that the move will cause
untold hardship to workers particularly fixed wage earners.</p>
<p>Noting the spiral-effect of the recent fuel price hike – the fifth in two years
– the civil society organisations are joining forces with the labour movement
to push for a minimum RM150 cost of living allowance, among others.<br>
MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, who chaired the two-hour meeting, said
the grassroots were unhappy over the government’s unilateral decision to
increase the fuel price again.</p>
<p>“We regret this move which has resulted in a 40 percent increase in petrol
price and a 102 percent jump in the price of diesel,” he told a press conference
in Petaling Jaya.</p>
<p>“Workers on the other hand will never get a similar hike in their salaries
even if they waited for three years as per the duration of a collective agreement.
They can dream on.”</p>
<p><b>Subsidy equals welfare</b></p>
<p>He said providing subsidies is the government’s duty in taking care of
the people’s welfare.</p>
<p>“What’s wrong with having subsidies if it benefits the people? Even
European governments have them for various sectors.”</p>
<p>Citing the 8th Malaysia Plan, he said 43 percent of households earn a monthly
income of less than RM1,500 while a staggering 58 percent earn RM2,000 or less.</p>
<p>“The raised fuel prices will contribute to a deteriorating quality of
life for about two million working-class families or an estimated 10 to 14 million
people who will be adversely and severely affected.”</p>
<p>The MTUC is preparing a memorandum outlining the immediate effects of rising
fuel costs on the daily lives of ordinary people with recommendations to reduce
the financial burden and to halt the widening income disparity.</p>
<p>“We will hand over the memorandum to the prime minister in Parliament
on March 27. We are also organising a people’s gathering at the KLCC on
March 26 to explain the effects of the price hike.”</p>
<p>The memorandum, said Syed Shahir, questions the rationale for shifting the
financial burden to the people.</p>
<p>“Why do we have to bear the cost of financial mismanagement, abuse of
power and corruption?”</p>
<p>Describing the fuel price hike as an additional form of taxation, Keadilan
vice-president R Sivarasa noted its unfairness to the low wage earners.</p>
<p>Citing the plight of fishermen in relation to the diesel subsidy, DAP secretary-general
Lim Guan Eng said the drop in their haul and the hike in costs did not make
sense.</p>
<p>He said their catch has dropped by 10 percent but the price of diesel has increased
threefold.</p>
<p>“Why are the authorities not going after the ones who handle the sale
of fish and who approve diesel subsidy, the government officers themselves?”</p>
<p><b>Unfair comparison</b></p>
<p>He also raised the question of the ‘missing billions’ in terms of
subsidy savings and oil giant Petronas’ profits.</p>
<p>“Where did the subsidy savings prior to the recent price hike go to? And
where will the present RM4.4 billion savings go?”</p>
<p>Citing the government’s price comparisons with Singapore, he said it was
akin to comparing apples with oranges.</p>
<p>“Malaysia exports petroleum whereas Singapore is an importer. Singapore
distributes its subsidy savings of S$2.6 billion to all its citizens but not
so in Malaysia which has wealth from oil revenue.”</p>
<p>Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation co-ordinator Charles Santiago (right)
disagreed that high subsidies gave a bad impression of Malaysia’s macro
financial policy as claimed by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last
week.</p>
<p>“The issue here is that the fund managers are disciplining the government
by working towards removing subsidies based on the notion of a free market.</p>
<p>“However, it is important for the government to see the larger picture
and not compromise social spending. As it stands, Malaysia has the widest income
inequality in Southeast Asia.”</p>
<p>The main concern arising from the government’s decision to raise fuel
prices is that whatever economic progress made over the last decade will slowly
be reversed.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com