NUFAM Media Statement - 25/9/2014

‎25 Sep 2014

PRESS STATEMENT.

MAS airline continues to sack their crew members without justice as this will be the fastest way to save cost on the company. 

2 senior Female crew and a Senior Male Flight Flight Attendant was recently terminated‎ without proper hearing. The manner these crew members were fired is very unbelievable. 

The National Union have been receiving too many reports in regards to crew members being terminated without notice and this injustice continues to remain very apparent as it fell on the deaf ears of the authorities too.

Who does MAS think they are? They acted above the law and could not careless on people's feelings. 

They fire Union leaders and crew members over trade disputes which they themselves fail to adhere. 

Worstly, they terminate employees on issues which does not make sense at all or even not giving a balance of fair inquiry to these employees. 

NUFAM have records of high suspension and termination over the past 2 years in MAS.

MAS is taking advantage worstly against crew members who have served the airline after so many years and they just ignore the principals of natural justice.

Where is justice for these workers whom have helped the airline during the bad times? Why are those in higher positions still remains in control when the airline fail to make money while they can continue to fire these crew employees without any notice? 

These questions have been raised to the Ministry of Human Resources for so long and it looks like there is no justice for these workers. There has been too many violations in MAS and they are getting away with it.

The National Union is all geared up to picket against MAS if this goes on and perhaps will call for strike if MAS continues to bully the crew members. 

Our crew has responsibilities to their lives and they are just human beings who makes mistakes, nothing that severe to kill their employment.

There seem to be no mercy in MAS today and what perplexes us most is they seem to get the blessings from the authorities.

The airline have in house policies which they created themselves without any consultations with the National Union and these policies mostly do not follow the basic Employment laws or guidelines. People are being axed almost every day and all the authorities could do is just watch and say nothing. 

NUFAM is urging the Minister of Human Resources to intervene immediately to this issue as it appears there is a silent blessing coming coming from him for employees and Union leaders to be sacked by MAS. 

Other Union leaders are also angry today at how the Industry have took a 360 turn against the workers as many of them who are Union members are fired for raising their concerns against the company. The Union Busting activity is getting out of hand. 

Is there really justice for workers here in this country? 

NUFAM wants the Ministry to stop haggling and do whats right for the workers, to protect them from employers who breaks the rule and to ensure employment policies and laws are prevailed. 

We have sufficient employment laws in place but most are not being practised by these companies as they are always being protected in some ways. 

END

NUFAM Secretariat |‎
Jalan 16- A, Persiaran Barat |
Level 28 PJ Exchange | HMS Shah Towers | 46050 Petaling Jaya
C | 03.7962.0000‎
T | 03. 7962. 0025
F | 03. 7962. 0001‎
E | nufamtheunion@nufam.org ‎

Pengecualiaan Gaji Minimum Kepada Majikan Mikro Nafi Hak Pekerja - Riot(Bernama)

Pengecualiaan Gaji Minimum Kepada Majikan Mikro Nafi Hak Pekerja - Riot

24 September 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Sept (Bernama) — Pengecualian gaji minimum kepada majikan-majikan mikro adalah suatu penafian hak kesamarataan kepada golongan pekerja yang majoritinya rakyat Malaysia, kata Menteri Sumber Manusia Datuk Richard Riot Jaem.

Beliau berkata golongan yang bekerja dengan majikan mikro lazimnya tidak mendapat sebarang elaun seperti mana yang dinikmati pekerja-pekerja dalam syarikat besar.

“Kebanyakan golongan sasar ini, termasuk pekerja bawah majikan mikro terdiri daripada golongan rentan dan sudah sewajarnya perlu diberi perlindungan melalui dasar gaji minimum,” kata Riot menerusi satu kenyataan di ibu negara, Selasa.

Menteri itu berkata demikian sebagai mengulas laporan sebuah akhbar berbahasa Inggeris (Malaymail), Isnin, yang melaporkan bahawa Persekutuan Majikan-majikan Malaysia (MEF) mencadangkan pelaksanaan gaji minimum dalam kalangan majikan mikro dikaji semula.

MEF membuat cadangan itu atas alasan majikan mikro menghadapi kesukaran untuk membayar gaji minimum.

Majikan mikro adalah majikan yang menggaji lima orang pekerja atau kurang.

Riot berkata objektif utama gaji minimum adalah untuk membantu golongan pekerja peringkat bawahan dan miskin memperoleh pendapatan yang mampu menyara kehidupan mereka.

Sehubungan itu, beliau berkata pengecualian gaji minimum kepada majikan mikro akan menyebabkan segolongan pekerja tidak dapat menikmati dasar kerajaan dan akan terus berada di bawah belenggu kemiskinan.

“Ini tidak menepati hasrat kerajaan untuk menjadi sebuah negara yang maju secara inklusif menjelang tahun 2020,” katanya.

MEF dinasihatkan agar membincangkan sebarang cadangan berhubung gaji minimum dalam mesyuarat Majlis Perundingan Gaji Negara yang mana pandangan perwakilan pekerja dalam majlis itu dapat diperoleh sebelum diputuskan oleh kerajaan, katanya. –BERNAMA

Sumber: Bernama

10,000 Majikan Swasta Gagal Laksana Skim Gaji Minimum(Bernama)

10,000 Majikan Swasta Gagal Laksana Skim Gaji Minimum

20 September 2014 

 

MARAN, 20 Sept (Bernama) — Kira-kira 10,000 majikan swasta masih gagal melaksanakan Skim Gaji Minimum yang dikuatkuasakan pada 1 Januari tahun lepas, kata Timbalan Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib.

Beliau berkata kerajaan memandang serius tentang perkara itu walaupun bilangannya hanya lima peratus daripada 200,000 majikan berdaftar dengan Jabatan Tenaga Kerja (JTK) Kementerian Sumber Manusia.

“Pekerja berhak membuat aduan kepada JTK dan kementerian jika majikan masih gagal melaksanakan dasar tersebut.

“Mengikut rekod kementerian sehingga kini, tiga majikan dihadapkan ke mahkamah kerana gagal berbuat demikian,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Program Karnival Kerjaya Azam Kerja dan Kemahiran peringkat negeri di Dewan Jubli Perak di sini, Sabtu.

Sementara itu Ismail berkata sehingga Jun lepas kadar pengangguran negara mencatatkan penurunan iaitu hanya 2.8 peratus berbanding 3.1 peratus pada tahun lalu.

Katanya kadar itu antara yang rendah berbanding negara maju lain.

Anggota Parlimen Maran itu berkata antara faktor dikenal pasti berlakunya pengangguran adalah disebabkan mereka yang terlibat mencari pekerjaan yang lebih baik berdasarkan kelayakan dan kemahiran yang ada.

Beliau memberitahu, pencari kerja aktif berdaftar sehingga 1 Sept lalu berjumlah 403,897 orang dengan 231,169 daripadanya merupakan siswazah untuk mengisi 115,672 peluang pekerjaan.

Ismail berkata, mulai tahun hadapan Program Karnival Azam Kerja akan menjelajah ke setiap kawasan parlimen seluruh negara bagi membolehkan lebih ramai rakyat mendapat mendapatkan pekerjaan. — BERNAMA

Sumber: Bernama

Nufam accuses MAS of neglecting crew’s safety and security(Malaysian Insider)

Nufam accuses MAS of neglecting crew’s safety and security

Published: 24 September 2014 | Updated: 24 September 2014 1:03 PM

 

Nufam wants Malaysia Airlines to ensure the safety and security of its crew. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, 

 

September 24, 2014.The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) has slammed the national carrier today over its alleged failure to take care of the safety and welfare of crew members, especially the female staff.

The union, in a statement, said crew members had been forced to travel to and from work on their own after a transport company outsourced by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for the purpose had allegedly neglected its duties.

The union said complaints had been ignored and the situation had persisted for some time, with the company giving excuses of not having designated drivers or vehicles available during the late and odd hours.
"Where are their vans and drivers then? Too many excuses had been given to us and we are sick and tired of it," the union said. Nufam said it was told that crew members had no choice but to go to work on their own; and many of the female crew members had raised concerns over their safety.

"They are often taken advantage of when using the public transport. Female crew members said they get stared at by men while taking the cabs or trains," the union said.

Nufam said crew members had also been victims of snatch thieves, although the cases were not officially reported.

The union said the transport service called "E-Smart Cab" was supposed to pick up staff from their homes to ensure they arrived on time for work but this had not been happening.

Often, the staff had received text messages from the company, telling them to go to work on their own. As a result, they were forced to use public transport and arrived late at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

"This shows that there are neglected parts on the safety and security of these employees and the union is worried.

"MAS had spent millions on transport contracts to supply sufficient drivers, buses and vans for their staff to go to work but what is going on?

"We recall that those contracts had to supply 400 vans for pick-ups and send-offs for 3,500 crew members, and another 10 buses for shift staffs from Subang to KLIA."

Nufam claimed that even the buses had not been making the trips.

"We are not surprised that something had gone wrong in those contracts, and the management is very silent about it."

The union urged MAS's new owner, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, to investigate the transport contract and to terminate the contractor if the company was found to have violated the agreements stated in the deals.

"If the company have failed to honour the contract, why is MAS retaining its service, (even) after complaints by crew members and staff?"

Nufam said it had received similar complaints from female flight attendants of AirAsia and Malindo Air, who were scared of walking in open car parks while wearing their uniforms that "can be very striking at night and could also attract perpetrators".

The union urged the airlines to take the safety and security of their crew seriously.

"We need to do what we preach and be serious in safety and security matters. If airlines want to have female crew members, they must at least provide basic transport facility for them." – September 24, 2014, Malaysian Insider, Nufam accuses MAS of neglecting crew’s safety and security

 

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/nufam-accuses-mas-of-neglecting-crews-safety-and-security#sthash.M5hiNxsZ.dpuf

Anda boleh turut serta menyokong pekerja dapatkan Union yang diiktiraf

Ayuh, mari kita menunjukkan solidariti dengan menandatangani surat menuntut hak berkesatuan sekerja dihormati.. http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=5721&Language=EN

 

Malaysia: Allow union formation in Sabah Forest Industry

Sabah Forest Industry, SFI, owned and operated by Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT), part of the gigantic Avantha Group is stepping up union busting tactics. The SFI has since 1998 refused to respect workers’ rights to form their union, affiliated to the Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union (STIEU), by using legal and technical maneuverings including two Judicial Reviews to quash the decision of Malaysian Minister of Human Resource to recognize the union. This Indian conglomerate operates in 90 countries with over 25 thousand employees.

Once again, on 17 March 2014, the STIEU filed another claim for recognition. In vain. SFI refusal prompted the Department of Industrial Relations to initiate a secret ballot election. The Department ordered SFI to submit the list of employees to be screened as eligible voters.

SFI employees’ rights to form a union have been supressed long enough! ACT NOW to demand that SFI finally allows the conduct of free secret ballot elections; refrain from legal maneuverings in the inclusion and exclusion of eligible employees to vote; respect workers’ rights to form and join union of their choosing free from management interference and respect the results of legitimate elections.

Surat tuntutan kempen

Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Sukarti Wakiman
SFI Chairman
      
I am appalled to hear about Sabah Forest Industry’s (SFI)refusal to allow workers to exercise their right to form a trade union of their own choosing, free from management interference.

I am alarmed by the legal manoeuvrings and technical machinations used by SFI to suppress workers’ right to form an independent trade union.

I deplore SFI’s double standards on BILT industrial relations practice in contrast to its companies in India, which are unionised.

The right to form a union is fully guaranteed by ILO Convention 87 and is embedded as a mandatory requirement in Forest Certification Systems and the mandatory Labour Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation, which gives financial support to SFI.

I urge you to allow the conduct of free secret ballot elections; refrain from legal maneuverings in the inclusion and exclusion of eligible employees to vote; respect workers’ right to form and join union of their choosing free from management interference and respect the results of legitimate elections.


Sincerely,


CC: r. Gautham Thapar
BILT Chairman

Mr. Yogesh Agrawal
SFI Managing Director

Mr. Neehar Aggrawal
SFI Chief Operating Officer

Pekerja akan RUGI jika cadangan mengabungkan MBSB, CIMB dan RHB menjadi realiti?

KWSP merupakan duit pekerja seratus peratus - dan KWSP kini merupakan pemegang saham majoriti (lebih 64% saham)  MBSB(Malaysian Building Society Berhad)di mana pekerja ada satu institusi kewangan yang dapat membuat pinjaman perumahan dan sebagainya - justeru pekerja ada hak dan upaya juga untuk memastikan faedah pinjaman rendah dan wajar khususnya untuk pekerja penyumbang KWSP(khususnya pekerja swasta)dan juga mungkin untuk pekerja lain.

 EPF has a 64.73% stake in MBSB, and this means they control the decision making in MBSB - EPF beneficiaries, being private sector employees, must be most concerned about losing MBSB - housing and personal loans provider

Mungkin pekerja juga boleh memastikan bahawa MBSB akan memberikan kelonggaran kepada pekerja yang hilang pekerjaan - mungkin penangguhan bayaran bulan hutang rumah, dsb..mungkin juga pengaturan semula skim pembayaran balik - kurangkan bayaran pinjaman bulanan...

Kenapa boleh? Kerana semua wang KWSP adalah milik pekerja - bukan milik majikan atau kerajaan. Kini mereka yang mentadbir KWSP hanya diamanahkan buat terbaik demi pekerja ... Pekerja ada banyak kuasa dalam KWSP - tapi malangnya pergerakan pekerja, MTUC, kesatuan sekerja dan pekerja tidak mengunakan kuasa sedia ada ini...

Pekerja kena bantah 'merger' ini kerana pekerja atau KWSP akan kehilangan kuasa yang mereka ada kini di dalam MBSB - selepas merger yang dicadangkan, KWSP tidak lagi akan jadi pemegang saham lebih 50% saperti mana berlaku kini dengan KWSP.

Ini duit pekerja (14 juta pekerja dan bekas pekerja?) - apa akan pekerja lakukan? KWSP akan kehilangan pengaruh...

EPF’s CEO Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan said on Monday: "All we ask is that the parties involved be aware that the EPF represents the interest of 14 million people and our right to vote is critical to protect their interests.” - Star, September 8, 2014, EPF’s right to vote in RHB Cap, CIMB, MBSB merger critical

 

Union raises stink over Malaysian banks merger, says workers not consulted

BY LEE SHI-IAN

Published: 20 September 2014

 

 

CIMB Group Holdings Berhad will join forces with RHB Capital and Malaysian Building Society Berhad in a proposed mega-merger. – Reuters pic, September 20, 2014. 

 

Malaysia's main bank workers union has criticised Putrajaya for failing to consult them over three financial institutions eyeing a merger or to ensure that their pension fund is being spent well in the process.

National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) secretary-general J. Solomon said the Ministry of Finance (MoF) appeared to be making all the decisions unilaterally in the proposed mega-merger of RHB Capital, CIMB Group Holdings Berhad and Malaysian Building Society Berhad (MBSB).

"It is very disappointing that MoF has not taken the initiative to consult the stakeholders, including NUBE, to ask for views or opinions regarding the merger," Solomon told The Malaysian Insider.
The proposed mega-merger has made headlines in business news pages as it could make the merged entity as the largest lender in Malaysia, surpassing Maybank Berhad. CIMB Group is the second-largest bank in Malaysia at present. Solomon said the workers of financial institutions were not trying to tell the management how to run the business, but their views should be taken into account.

He reminded Putrajaya that it had been part of a tripartite meeting with banks and workers in the early 2000s, where “all parties agreed that there would be consultations with the workers before any proposed merger of financial entities was approved".

Solomon also said the involvement of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in the merger raised questions and speculation.

"There is no transparency in how the workers' funds are being spent and this can lead to a lot of unnecessary speculation, which can affect morale."

He was referring to the controversy over the EPF's voting rights in the three-way merger following the leak of an unsigned letter on September 4, purportedly from unhappy board members of RHB.

The letter carried strong objections to permitting EPF to vote on the resolution to approve the proposed merger.

The letter also said that EPF, as the major shareholder and related party of RHB Capital, should abstain from voting on the merger, as the transaction involved the interest of EPF due to its large shareholding in CIMB.

"NUBE is concerned not only in the context that workers' representatives have not been consulted over the merger, but also how their funds are being invested," Solomon said.

He also expressed concern for customers as banks appeared to be charging fees for services which had previously been given free.

"Bank employees are also bank customers and they face being charged additional fees, like ordinary customers."

Solomon warned that Bank Negara had to regulate the banks and financial institutions to ensure that they were customer-friendly.

"Otherwise, we are looking at a possible scenario where banks will eventually only serve the rich and influential," he said.

"The poor will either stare at the banks whose services are beyond their reach, or else the poor men's money may be used to finance the rich."

Solomon said in the 1990s, there were financial institutions and banks operating in Malaysia, but the 1997 Asian financial crisis brought change.

"Putrajaya gave the excuse that banks needed to merge in order to be stronger, which would also benefit the rakyat," Solomon said.

"However, with the merger came the introduction of additional fees and charges," he said.

For instance, if a customer makes more than four withdrawals from the ATM in a month, charges are levied on subsequent withdrawals in that month.

"Banks have also introduced charges for over-the-counter cash transactions which do not exceed RM10,000," Solomon added.

"What is the point of the banks becoming globally strong while the masses in the country are suffering?" he asked. – September 20, 2014.

 

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/union-raises-stink-over-malaysian-banks-merger-says-workers-not-consulted#sthash.L2vwOwzo.dpuf

73 persen buruh kelihatannya mempunyai “sejumlah karakteristik“ kerja paksa

Kerja Paksa di Industri Elektronik Malaysia

Hampir sepertiga dari sekitar 350.000 pekerja industri elektronik Malaysia – yang merupakan rantai penting pemasok dunia – menjadi korban perbudakan modern berupa jeratan hutang, demikian kesimpulan sebuah penelitian. 

Penelitian yang dilakukan Verite, sebuah organisasi buruh internasional, menemukan bahwa penyalahgunaan hak-hak pekerja – khususnya puluhan ribu buruh dari negara-negara yang dibayar dengan upah rendah seperti Nepal, Myanmar dan Indonesia –merebak di sektor senilai 75 miliar US Dollar yang menjadi andalan ekonomi Malaysia.

Sejumlah perusahaan AS, Eropa, Jepang dan Korea Selatan beroperasi di Malaysia, termasuk Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Sony Corp, Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, dan Bosch Ltd.

Sejumlah merek besar juga menggunakan jasa pemasok seperti Flextronics,

Venture Corporation, Jabil Circuit, dan JCY International untuk membuat komponen smartphone, computer dan printer.

Pendanaan dari pemerintah AS menambah kredibilitas laporan yang kelihatannya akan mengejutkan bagi banyak konsumen.

Malaysia adalah negara berpendapatan mendengah di mana standar upah dilihat sebagai lebih baik dibanding sejumlah negara tetangga Asia lainnya seperti Cina, di mana praktek-praktek ketenagakerjaan dipertanyakan dan menjadi sasaran pengawasan beberapa tahun terakhir.

Verite tidak menyebut satupun nama perusahaan dalam laporan, yang dikeluarkan hari Rabu, namun menyalahkan sistem dimana kebijakan pemerintah dan industri telah meningkatkan wewenang perusahaan perekrut buruh Malaysia dalam mengontrol upah serta syarat-syarat ketenagakerjaan lainnya.

“Hasil (penelitian) ini menunjukkan bahwa kerja paksa dalam industri elektronik Malaysia lebih dari sekedar hanya insiden terpisah, dan memang bisa dikategorikan secara luas,“ kata kelompok tersebut.

 

Terjerat hutang

Sejumlah perusahaan AS yang beroperasi di Malaysia mengatakan bahwa mereka tidak bisa memberikan komentar sampai mereka melihat secara utuh laporan tersebut. Juru bicara perusahaan Intel mengatakan hampir semua dari 8.200 pembuat chip mereka adalah warga Malaysia dan mereka tidak menggunakan kontraktor (perusahaan perekrut tenaga kerja). Flextronics mengaku sadar akan isu terkait buruh asing dan mereka menerapkan kebijakan ketat untuk mencegah pelanggaran.

Pejabat Malaysia tidak bisa segera memberikan komentar ketika diminta memberikan pernyataan atas temuan ini.

Studi ini muncul tiga bulan setelah status Malaysia diturunkan ke Tier 3 dalam laporan Perdagangan Tahunan Departemen Luar Negeri mengenai perdagangan manusia, yang dalam laporannya menyebut soal lemahnya kemajuan dalam perlindungan hak-hak sekitar empat juta pekerja asing.

Laporan yang didasarkan atas wawancara atas 501 buruh, menemukan bahwa 28 persen pekerja berada dalam situasi “kerja paksa”, di mana mereka bekerja secara terpaksa karena sejumlah faktor termasuk karena mempunyai hutang akibat membayar iuran terlalu mahal bagi perusahaan perekrut tenaga kerja.

Angka itu naik menjadi 32 persen bagi para buruh asing di sering disesatkan terkait gaji serta syarat ketenagakerjaan lainnya ketika mereka direkrut di negara asal, dan biasanya dikenakan biaya berlebihan yang membuat mereka terpaksa berhutang.

Verite mengatakan angka-angka itu didasarkan pada perhitungan konservatif. Mereka menemukan bahwa 73 persen buruh kelihatannya mempunyai “sejumlah karakteristik“ kerja paksa.

ab/hp (ap,rtr,afp)

Sumber: DW -  http://www.dw.de/kerja-paksa-di-industri-elektronik-malaysia/a-17927423

Kenakan Penalti Lebih Tinggi Kepada Majikan Abaikan Keselamatan Pekerja - MTUC

17 September 2014 

 

SHAH ALAM, 17 Sept (Bernama) — Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) mencadangkan kerajaan supaya mengenakan penalti yang lebih tinggi ke atas majikan yang didapati cuai sehingga menyebabkan kemalangan dan kematian pekerja di tempat kerja, kata Timbalan Setiausaha Agungnya, A. Balasubramaniam.

Beliau berkata banyak kemalangan berkaitan tempat kerja di Malaysia menarik perhatian umum dengan kejadian terbaru, kemalangan ngeri di tapak projek Transit Aliran Massa (MRT) di Kota Damansara, Selangor yang meragut tiga nyawa.

“MTUC berpendapat tindakan tegas perlu diambil ke atas majikan yang bertanggungjawab kepada kematian pekerja dan penalti maksimum perlu dikenakan sebagaimana yang terdapat dalam undang-undang,” katanya kepada Bernama.

Beliau berkata sebagai contoh sebuah syarikat pembinaan didenda sebanyak S$150,000 (RM380,000) di Singapura kerana telah mengingkari peraturan keselamatan sehingga menyebabkan seorang pekerjanya mati.

Denda itu dipercayai satu jumlah tertinggi yang dikenakan ke atas seorang majikan di bawah Seksyen 12 Akta Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Tempat Kerja di republik itu.

Sehubungan itu, Balasubramaniam berkata seorang majikan perlu memastikan keselamatan, kesihatan dan kebajikan kesemua pekerjanya di tempat kerja sebagaimana termaktub di bawah Akta Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan 1994.

“Seorang majikan yang melanggar peruntukan undang-undang itu boleh didenda tidak melebihi RM50,000 atau penjara maksimum dua tahun atau kedua-duanya,” kata beliau.

Pada masa yang sama, Balasubramaniam menggesa Jabatan Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan untuk menjalankan siasatan menyeluruh ke atas kemalangan di tempat kerja. – BERNAMA

Sumber: Bernama

ITUC menyatakan Malaysia antara negara paling teruk bagi pekerja

See also:-

Malaysia among 24 'worst countries for workers': 2014 survey (Star)

 

Malaysia among the worst for rights of workers

Malaysia is ranked among the worst countries in the world to work in, according to the recently released International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index.

Among the 139 countries that were studied for a period of a year, Malaysia was placed 22nd from the bottom which ranked lower than Asean neighbours Myanmar, Indonesia and Singapore in exercising worker rights.

The countries which were categorised using a rating scale from 1 to 5+, where 1 is for countries that have guaranteed labour rights like Uruguay, Germany and France. 

Malaysia, was categorised as 5 where workers have very minimal rights and are subjected to unfair labour practices, with 5+ being for war-torn countries without any law for worker rights at all, like Syria, Somalia and Palestine.

Civil liberties, rights to establish or join unions, trade union activities, rights to collective bargaining and rights to strike were among the indicators taken to determine the countries index ratings.

The Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM), Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) and Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor at a joint press conference today condemned the government for its lack of role in upholding worker rights.

“It is shameful that Malaysia is classified as among the worst countries for workers when the prime minister wants us to compete and be among the developing countries in the year 2020,” PSM treasurer A Sivarajan (below) said.

The coalition also slammed the government for being more interested in bringing in foreign investors with incentives at the “expense of workers who are exploited for profit”.

Meanwhile, Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor advisor Irene Xavier accused the government of not being “union friendly”, hence, the rampant deficiency in worker rights.

“All activists and NGOs know that our government is anti-union. The right to be a trade union member is on paper only.”

Jerit Worker Coordinator, Sivaranjani demanded for the government to revamp the laws regarding worker rights, as there are many contradictions especially in areas of jurisdiction between the Human Resources Ministry and Immigration Department.

“The laws for workers need to be reviewed according to the universal worker law. There are two set of bodies enforcing laws that are contradictory to each other.”

The coalition said that it will write a letter to the Human Resources Ministry to demand an answer to the ranking of Malaysia, as there are over 12 million Malaysian and three million foreign workers affected by improper worker rights in the country. - Malaysiakini, 17/9/2014, Malaysia among the worst for rights of workers

KTMB continues sacking spree over picket

BY LEE SHI-IAN

Published: 10 September 2014 | Updated: 10 September 2014 11:03 AM

Eight Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) employees have been sacked and 16 others suspended for participating in an illegal picket on May 9. – Wikipedia pic, September 10, 2014. 

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) continued to reign in defiant employees, sacking eight and suspending 16 others for participating in an illegal picket.
 

Last week, the KTMB management issued termination letters to Railwaymen's Union of Malaya (RUM) president Abdul Razak Md Hassan and his deputy R. Subramaniam.
Abdul Razak told The Malaysian Insider today that RUM would be presenting a memorandum to the Finance Ministry soon to appeal for Putrajaya's intervention.
 

 

"KTMB is owned by the Finance Ministry and we will be submitting a memorandum to appeal to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to resolve this issue," he said. 

 

The eight who were sacked yesterday and the 16 suspended were among 110 union members waiting news about their fate after participating in a picket to pressure KTMB president Datuk Elias Kadir to step down.

"The remaining 86 union members are still waiting for the outcome of a domestic inquiry before knowing their fates," Razak told The Malaysian Insider.

"Who is KTMB to decide that the picket was illegal? The workers were RUM members who were participating in a RUM activity," he said, adding that Section 4 of Act 177 of the Industrial Relations Act 1967 stated that an employee should not be stopoed from participating in union activities.

Razak said he and Subramaniam have filed complaints over their sacking with the Industrial Relations Department, adding that RUM will hold a press conference tomorrow to explain the issue and their next course of action.

Last week, The Malaysian Insider reported that KTMB had sacked Razak and Subramaniam, while another 110 RUM members were issued showcause letters for joining the picket.

Some 700 RUM members participated in the protest calling for Elias to step down as KTMB president.

"Elias moves too slowly and appears to be driving KTMB into the ground. The current dire straits KTMB finds itself in is testament to that," Razak added.

He said an audit conducted in 2011 showed the company suffered RM100 million in losses, and this nearly tripled to RM280 million in 2012.

Razak claimed that the safety of workers, train crews and passengers were at an all-time low, and that KTMB locomotives were in need of an overhaul.

"If you use a car for 10 to 15 years, even the engine would give way eventually. But KTMB has only carried out minor repairs on the locomotives."

Razak said it was the same for the passenger coaches and the power generator cars, all of which were long overdue for major repairs.

He said the railway tracks were also in bad shape, forcing trains to travel at the minimum speed.

Razak said that between 1961 and 1963, KTMB workers had picketed for 23 days, bringing the railway operations to a complete halt.

"Nobody was sacked or subjected to disciplinary action during the picket. Our picketing was mild compared to what had occurred almost 50 years ago. So what is KTMB's justification for sacking me and Subramaniam?" he asked.

He did not rule out the possibility that Elias's actions may be related to the proposed privatisation of KTMB by MMC Corp Bhd, owned by tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary.

The loss-making KTMB has been the target of several companies keen to take it private, including MMC and Gamuda Bhd.

Earlier this year, MMC indicated interest to form a joint venture with Gamuda to take over KTMB in a deal worth more than RM5 billion, but the deal did not materialise.

MMC has since presented a proposal to privatise the cargo operations of KTMB and initial estimates put the sum at RM2 billion. – September 10, 2014.

 

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ktmb-continues-sacking-spree-over-picket#sthash.rZzEcCT8.dpuf

Kenyataan Solidarity Untuk Kesatuan RUM dan Pekerja dari NUFAM

 9 September 2014

Kenyataan Solidarity Untuk 

Kesatuan RUM dan Pekerja 

Dari Kesatuan Kebangsaan NUFAM

Bantahan Kesatuan NUFAM Terhadap Tindakan Pembuangan  Kerja Ke Atas Pegawai-Pegawai Kesatuan KTMB Dan Ahli Ahli Kesatuan RUM.

Kesatuan NUFAM ingin menyatakan kekesalan atas tindakan pengurusan KTMB mengambil tindakan disiplin terhadap 100 pegawai dan ahli Kesatuan RUM.

Sebagai Kesatuan sekerja pengangkutan di Malaysia, NUFAM membantah sekeras-kerasnya ke atas tindakan pemecatan Presiden dan Timbalan Kesatuan RUM dan tindakan tata tertib yang telah diambil oleh syarikat KTMB ke ata‎s 100 ahli Kesatuan RUM.

Ini dengan jelasnya bertentangan dengan landasan di dalam Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967 dan Akta Kesatuan Kerja 1959 yang menyatakan hak pegawai-pegawai kesatuan boleh menjalankan tugas-tugas mereka sebagai sebuah kesatuan pekerja di KTM.

Kesatuan NUFAM berharap perkara ini dapat diselesaikan dengan segera agar keharmonian di tempat kerja dapat dipeliharakan dan juga mengaharap pengurusan KTMB dapat menarik balik segala tindakan yang telah diambil ke atas pegawai-pegawai kesatuan dan pekerja mereka.

Kami berharap pihak pengurusan KTMB akan lebih hormati dengan hak Kesatuan Pekerja dan memberi lebih keprihatinan untuk mengekalkan keharmonian di tempat kerja dengan sentiasa bekerjasama dan berpegang kepada prinsip bermusyawarah (tripatite)  di antara majikan, pihak kesatuan dan pekerja.

Sekian. Harap Maklum.

Yang benar,

Mohd Akram Osman

Setiausaha Agung

NUFAM

KTMB – Jangan Aniaya Kesatuan KTM! - Kenyataan JERIT

JARINGAN RAKYAT TERTINDAS (JERIT)

No 72B, Jalan Langat 1, Taman Sri Langat, 43000 Kajang, Selangor. Tel/Fax: 03-87370766  www.jerit.org

KENYATAAN AKHBAR: 9 SEPTEMBER 2014

KTMB – Jangan Aniaya Kesatuan KTM!

Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT) amat kesal dengan tindakan Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) yang telah memecat 2 pimpinan tertinggi Kesatuan KTM iaitu Presiden dan Timbalannya dengan serta merta. Alasan yang diberikan oleh KTMB adalah kerana mereka telah terlibat dalam piket pada 9 Mei 2014 yang menuntut presiden KTMB, Elias Kadir meletak jawatan. JERIT mengutuk keras tindakan pemangsaan pimpinan kesatuan ini kerana tindakan membuat piket tersebut adalah sah di sisi undang-undang dan satu cara untuk kesatuan sekerja menuntut hak pekerja.

Kesatuan KTM adalah salah satu kesatuan yang progresif di mana perjuangan pekerja-pekerja KTM pada tahun 1960an begitu hangat di Malaya. Pekerja kesatuan ini pernah melibatkan mogok selama 23 hari untuk menuntut kenaikan gaji dan menolak sistem kerja kontrak. Perjuangan Kesatuan KTM ini menang setelah Kerajaan menunaikan tuntutan mereka iaitu gaji dinaikkan dan sistem gaji harian ataupun sistem kontrak dihapuskan.

Sehingga kini, pimpinan KTM dan perjuangan pekerja-pekerja KTM terus progresif dan mara ke depan. Jadi, Kesatuan KTM telah terlibat aktif dalam kempen menjatuhkan Presiden KTMB yang menunjukkan prestasi kerja yang tidak mendatangkan keuntungan kepada KTMB

Kesatuan KTM membuat satu tuntutan yang sah demi kebaikan organisasi dan masa depan pekerja. Adalah tidak wajar bagi pihak majikan, iaitu KTMB membuang pimpinan dan melanggar semangat keharmoian industri.

 

Maka, kami JERIT bersolidariti dengan pimpinan kesatuan dan keseluruhan pekerja-pekerja kesatuan KTMB dan mengecam tindakan KTMB dan menuntut menarik balik pembuangan Presiden KTM dan timbalannya dengan serta merta, dan menghormati keharmonian industry serta hak pekerja.

HidupPekerja,  Hidup Perjuangan Pekerja.

Dikeluarkan oleh,

Sivaranjani Manikam

JERIT

--
JARINGAN RAKYAT TERTINDAS(JERIT)

Syed Shahir:- 5.8 juta pekerja asing angka mencemaskan, apa perancangan kerajaan?

MALAYSIA:::Senator: 5.8 juta pekerja asing angka mencemaskan, apa perancangan kerajaan?

SHAH ALAM, 5 SEPT: Senator Dewan Negara, Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud berpendapat Kerajaan Pusat masih gagal untuk menurunkan jumlah kebergantungan terhadap pekerja asing dan angka tersebut disifatkan mencemaskan.
Katanya, jumlah 5.8 juta tenaga kerja asing yang disebutkan Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Seri Richard Riot adalah tinggi memandangkan secara keseluruhan negara mempunyai hampir 13 juta tenaga kerja.
Menurutnya lagi, sebelum ini pernah disuarakan suatu ketetapan yang menyebut jumlah pekerja asing di negara ini perlu diturunkan pada satu angka pada 2015.
“Angka disebut amat mencemaskan kerana angka itu amat besar iaitu hampir 6 juta. seperti yang kita maklum jumlah tenaga kerja yang ada di Malaysia adalah hampir 13 juta. jadi bermakna lebih daripada 40 hingga 50 peratus tenaga kerja.

“Kita tidak menentang tetapi kita tahu tenaga kerja ini menyumbang kepada pembangunan negara dalam maa yang sama juga pemerintah kena serius dalam isu ini.
“Siapa yang patut disalahkan? Ini yang patut ditekankan. Yang membawa masuk itu sudah tentu kontraktor dan agen tetapi yang mengeluarkan permit ataupun lesen siapa dia? Atas petimbangan apa lesen ini dikeluarkan?,” katanya kepada Selangor Kini.
Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Seri Richard Riot sebelum ini menarik perhatian terhadap lambakan pekerja asing dalam negara ketika ini iaitu kira-kira 5.8 juta orang.
Katanya, hanya separuh dari jumlah itu, atau kira-kira 2.9 juta adalah pekerja sah, dan ini merupakan situasi yang agak merisaukan.
Kata bekas Presiden Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) ini, kemasukan pekerja ini adalah sedikit sebanyak menjejaskan pekerja tempatan dan ia perlu diberikan perhatian.
“Gaji yang ditawarkan kepada pekerja luar secara relatifnya agak rendah walaupun ada yang mengatakan kosnya amat tinggi.

“Oleh hal yang demikian ini akan mendorong gaji pekerja tidak akan naik,” tambahnya lagi.
Menyentuh soal produktiviti beliau menjelaskan, penggunaan terlalu ramai pekerja asing dilihat mampu mengakibatkan pihak industri lebih menumpukan kepada penggunaan tenaga kerja dengan kos yang lebih rendah berbanding membeli jentera yang lebih mahal.
“Kalau bercakap mengenai produktiviti dan sebagainya, dengan tenaga pekerja asing untuk industri tidak memerlukan kemahiran, jadi akhirnya pemain industri tidak akan meningkatkan teknologi industrinya.
“Ini kerana mereka beranggapan membawa masuk pekerja luar lebih murah daripada membeli jentera yang jauh lebih mahal,” kata beliau lagi.

sumber:::http://wargamarhaen.blogspot.com

 

Sumber

MTUC bantah tindakan 'Union Busting' (30/8/2014)

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Restrictive laws squeeze workers - K George (Aliran Monthly 2003:11)

Restrictive laws squeeze workers

 

If they are to have their rights restored, workers must realise the power of their votes by by K George
Aliran Monthly 2003:11
 

George: Obnoxious amendments were introduced to the Trade Unions Act

Trade union rights are basically human rights as far as rights such as freedom of association, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and protection from slavery and forced labour are concerned. To enable us to identity the basic union rights, it is necessary to have a glimpse of the International Labour Organisation Conventions No. 87, 98 and 151.

The ILO is part of the United Nations Organization. ILO Conventions are adopted at its annual conference, participants of which consist of two government delegates each from member countries and one delegate each from employers� federations and workers� organisations of the respective countries.

According to Convention No.87, workers and employers shall have full freedom to organise themselves. The organisations shall draw up their own constitution and rules, elect their leaders in full freedom and organise their administration and activities without any interference by the government. The organizations shall not be dissolved or suspended by the administrative authority, which is the government.

No condition should be imposed by the government on the organisations� right to establish or join a federation/confederation and to affiliate with international organizations.

Granting of legal personality shall not involve restrictions on the above rights.

Under Convention No. 98, it is the responsibility of the government to protect workers against anti-union discrimination and victimisation by employers and against domination of workers' organisations by any acts including financial contributions. The government should also establish machinery for the purpose of ensuring respect for the right to organise.

There is nothing extraordinary in these Conventions. These rights adopted by the ILO are more or less based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Workers especially need these guarantees to protect themselves against exploitation by employers who wield financial power and political influence.

Shockingly Restrictive

If one is concerned over the plight of working people, one would be shocked to find that Malaysian labour law is extremely restrictive and even prohibitive when compared to the rights guaranteed by the ILO Conventions.

In this article, I wish to highlight some of the provisions in the Trade Unions Act (TUA) 1959. While the TUA confers legal personality to trade unions it has numerous provisions contrary to the ILO Conventions. As the nation progressed, more and more obnoxious amendments were introduced to the Act, the worst being the 1980 amendments, which were in fact the brainchild of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

The Director General of Trade Union (DGTU) shall have general supervision, direction and control of matters relating to trade unions (section 3). Under section 4A, which was introduced in 1980, he shall exercise all such powers, discharge all such duties and perform all such functions as may be necessary for carrying out the provisions of the Act.

Who makes up the electorate? At least 90 per cent of them are workers and their families.

Under colonial, rule the workers were allowed to form General Unions, which means the membership could comprise all categories of workers. This right has been systematically withdrawn vide section 9 of the Act, which says Malaysian workers are only allowed to form unions within a particular trade, occupation or industry.

It does not stop at that. The DGTU is empowered to refuse registration of a trade union vide section 12(3) if he or she is of the opinion that:

• the union is likely to be used for unlawful purposes, or
• any of the objectives of the union are unlawful, or
• the constitution of the union conflicts with the provision of the Act.

He can also reject the registration of a trade union if there is in existence another union catering for similar workers. The operative condition is �in his opinion.� What a blow to the concept of freedom of association!

Blow Against Basic Freedoms

Section 15(2) says if there is more than one union in existence in a particular trade, occupation or industry, the DGTU may cancel the certificates of all unions other than the union, which has the largest number of members. It is yet another slap on the freedom of association.

The DGTU is empowered to suspend a branch of a union if he is satisfied that the branch has contravened the provisions of the Act or the rules of the union. Is it not more proper and sensible for the DGTU to direct the union head office to do this unpleasant job?

It is also within the power of the DGTU to disqualify an elected executive of a trade union or a federation of trade unions by specifying the grounds for such disqualification (section 28(2)).

Even in employing a worker, a union has to get clearance from the DGTU as required under section 29 of the Act. If an employer claims his or her workers have no right to be members of a particular union, the DGTU is empowered to make a decision based on his own opinion. For instance, a trade union catering for drink workers was ordered not to enrol workers involved in the Horlicks business by one DGTU. Subsequently another DGTU reversed that decision. Another example: our government and the court ruled that electronic workers are different from electrical workers!

While the government has given permission for trade unions to invest in business enterprises and cooperatives, it is mandatory under section 49 for the union concerned to obtain prior approval from the Director General before the investment is carried out. Violation of this condition carries a penalty of two years� imprisonment and/or RM2, 000 fine.

Sections 50 to 57 in Part VIII of the Act deal with union funds and finance, the accounting procedure etc. The Director General can enter a trade union office and inspect all its books and records. He can also freeze the funds of a trade union.

The primary purpose of all these restrictive provisions in the Act, it is claimed, is to protect the funds of the union, which belongs to the members. But the fact is that there have been instances of union money being mismanaged and misappropriated. Haven�t you heard that union money has been used to gamble in the stock market, to invest in questionable economic ventures; and to provide interest-free loans to union leaders?

What Have The Authorities Done?

Under section 71, the Director General can seek information on any of the activities of a trade union by summoning any person to his office. The Director General may administer oaths to and examine any person on oath summoned before him.

Even for international affiliation, the trade union must obtain the prior approval of the Director General vide section 76B; he must also be furnished with the constitution and the details of the officers of the international organization concerned. He is also empowered under section 76C to order the trade union to withdraw from the international organization.

The provisions enumerated in this article are in total violation of the rights guaranteed by the ILO Conventions. In fact there are several more obnoxious provisions in the Act. Not many democratic countries have imposed so much restrictions and prohibitions on the rights of the working people.

Political parties, NGOs, and concerned citizens have frequently criticised the Internal Security Act, the Police Act, the Printing Presses and Publications Act, and the Universities and University Colleges Act. But seldom - very seldom - do we hear them highlighting the atrocious provisions of Malaysian labour laws affecting more than 10 million workers .

Do the workers know the pathetic situation of their own rights? Who are our law makers? They are the members of the Dewan Rakyat whom we elect by casting our votes.

Who makes up the electorate? At least 90 per cent of them are workers and their families. When they reach the ballot box, some think of their race or their religion; some remember the kenduri and gifts received; many others are influenced by the propaganda dished out by our pliant mass media. The workers tend to forget their struggle for the equitable distribution of the nation�s wealth, the restoration of their dignity, the establishment of an egalitarian society, freedom and peace.

It is time the workers realised that they can succeed if only they ensure they have trustworthy representatives in the Dewan Rakyat who are committed to the cause of the workers. It is the duty and responsibility of the trade union leaders to impress on the working people the power of their votes - and not to depend on senators and Datuks.