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 congress is demanding a minimum wage for workers in the private sector
and they be paid living allowance.
<p>MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud said it was too late to call off the
pickets here and in Selangor, Sarawak, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Perak,
Johor and Pahang.</p>
<p>"We have not received any official request to call off the pickets.</p>
<p>"Moreover, we have officially conveyed our plans to hold them," he
said.</p>
<p>In Pekan, Datuk Seri Najib Razak urged MTUC not to be confrontational in its
approach.</p>
<p>He said the threat to launch a nationwide picket could harm ongoing talks.</p>
<p>"I hope they do not proceed as negotiation with the Human Resources Ministry
is yet to be concluded," he said after the ground-breaking cermony of Institut
Kemahiran Tenun Pahang Diraja here yesterday.</p>
<p>"They were even supposed to meet the prime minister to discuss the matter,"
he said several hours before the pickets started at 5pm yesterday.</p>
<p>Najib said MTUC should not complicate the situation as workers’ issues
in the country had always been solved amicably.</p>
<p>The government, he added, had never neglected their interests but demands for
higher wages had to be balanced with the need for the country to remain competitive.</p>
<p>"We have our own ways (in finding a solution) without getting things muddled.</p>
<p>"I do hope that negotiations can still proceed peacefully and an amicable
solution is reached."</p>
<p>MTUC is seeking legislation to fix a minimum wage of RM900 and cost of living
allowance (Cola) of RM300 for private sector employees.</p>
<p>It presented a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office on June 18, giving
the government a one-week ultimatum to respond, failing which it would resort
to picketing.</p>
<p>MTUC vice-president Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid said picketing was unavoidable
as the government had shown a lack of commitment to resolve the minimum wage
issue.</p>
<p>"With the prices of basic goods increasing, it is more crucial now to
have a minimal wage and Cola.</p>
<p>"This will ensure the rights of eight million workers are protected and
prevent abuse by employers," he said in Jalan Raja Laut here, the location
of one of the pickets, which saw the turnout of some 500 people carrying banners
and placards.</p>
<p>National Union of Bank Employees president S. Sivabalan said the government
should give equal attention to the welfare of workers in the private and public
sectors.</p>
<p>In Prai, some 1,000 people took part in a picket at 5pm in Jalan Baru.</p>
<p>Penang MTUC chairman Abdul Razak Hamid said the workers represented some 52,000
MTUC members from 47 affiliates in the state.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/National/20070626093230/Article/index_html</i></p>
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Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com