MTUC: Have emergency aid for 'suddenly-unemployed' workers
Published on: Friday, February 13, 2015
|
Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has
called on the government to immediately to put in place an emergency
relief scheme for the suddenly unemployed as they seek new employment.
Its Secretary-General, N. Gopal Krishnan said the move would prevent the
workers and their families from sliding down to poverty.
"Like the recent floods, unemployment can also come suddenly and
unexpectedly, and affected workers and their families will need some
emergency help to survive the situation and get back on their feet," he
said in a statement here Thursday.
This assistance, he said, would be temporary in nature, lasting possibly
for a period of maybe, not more than six to 12 months, being the time
required for the out-of-job worker to find a suitable new employment.
Unemployment assistance scheme was present in many countries, including Thailand, noted Gopal Krishnan.
He said the Thailand Unemployment Assistance Programme – in operation
since 2004 – provided workers who lost their jobs as a result of
termination or were laid-off, to receive 50 per cent of wages for not
more than 180 days within one year.
There were, of course, conditions which stated applicants must be ready
to take necessary efforts to seek employment, and even undergo whatever
required skills training, he added.
"In Malaysia, reasonably such monthly assistance could be 50 per cent of wages or RM1,000, whichever is higher," he said.
Gopal Krishnan said MTUC joined the Malaysian Employers Federation in
calling on employers not to dismiss their employees, following the
expected slowdown in the economic growth this year.
He added that trade unions would be able to sit down with employers and
work out concrete solutions that would benefit both worker and employer
during the turbulent period. – Bernama - Daily Express, 13/2/2014, MTUC: Have emergency aid for 'suddenly-unemployed' workers
MTUC wants emergency financial assistance for ‘suddenly-unemployed’ workers
12 Feb 2015 06:21pm
MTUC
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12– The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has
called on the government to immediately to put in place an emergency
relief scheme for the suddenly unemployed as they seek new employment.
Its secretary-general, N. Gopal Krishnan said the move would prevent
the workers and their families from sliding down to poverty.
“Like the recent floods, unemployment can also come suddenly and
unexpectedly, and affected workers and their families will need some
emergency help to survive the situation and get back on their feet,” he
said in a statement here today.
This assistance, he said, would be temporary in nature, lasting
possibly for a period of maybe, not more than six to 12 months, being
the time required for the out-of-job worker to find a suitable new
employment.
Unemployment assistance scheme was present in many countries, including Thailand, noted Gopal Krishnan.
He said the Thailand Unemployment Assistance Programme – in operation
since 2004 – provided workers who lost their jobs as a result of
termination or were laid-off, to receive 50 per cent of wages for not
more than 180 days within one year.
There were, of course, conditions which stated applicants must be
ready to take necessary efforts to seek employment, and even undergo
whatever required skills training, he added.
“In Malaysia, reasonably such monthly assistance could be 50 per cent of wages or RM1,000, whichever is higher,” he said.
Gopal Krishnan said MTUC joined the Malaysian Employers Federation
in calling on employers not to dismiss their employees, following the
expected slowdown in the economic growth this year.
He added that trade unions would be able to sit down with employers
and work out concrete solutions that would benefit both worker and
employer during the turbulent period.–Bernama - ABN News, 12/2/2015, MTUC wants emergency financial assistance for ‘suddenly-unemployed’ workers
MTUC CALLS FOR EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR WORKERS OUT OF WORK
Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) urges the government to
immediately put in place an emergency relief scheme for the suddenly
unemployed as they seek new employment. Like the recent floods,
unemployment can also come suddenly and unexpectedly, and affected
workers and their families will need some emergency help to survive the
situation and get back on their feet.
The worker in Malaysia, if he/she were to lose their job, requires immediate emergency financial assistance whilst he looks for another employment. Today, the worker is burdened with monthly financial obligations like food, clothing, basic amenities (water, electricity, sewage bills, telecommunication and television), healthcare, transportation and children’s education. Additionally, most workers have monthly financial obligations to make payments towards home and car loans.
Due to the lack of a good, efficient and affordable public transport system in most parts of Malaysia, the worker has been forced into having to purchase a car, whereby on an average this entails an average monthly payment of RM500 to the loan provider. Likewise, with the Malaysian government’s push for workers to buy their own homes, many have bought houses and this too means monthly loan payments. Many workers also buy furniture and household appliances through hire-purchase schemes.
As such, if a worker is suddenly wrongfully dismissed, it creates great financial problems to the worker and their families, and there is an urgent need to put in place an emergency unemployment assistance scheme as is now present in many countries, including neighbouring Thailand. This assistance would be temporary in nature, lasting possibly for a period of maybe not more than 6 -12 months, being the time required for the out of job worker to find a suitable new employment. Without such emergency financial assistance, the unemployed can very easily slide into abject poverty – losing their home, having their car towed away, their furniture and household appliance re-possessed.
The Thailand’s Unemployment Assistance program which has been operational since 2004, provides ‘for unemployment resulted from termination of employment or laid-off, the worker will receive 50% of wages for not more than 180 days within 1 year’. There were of course conditions that the said applicant be ready to make all necessary efforts to find employment, and even undergo whatever required skills training.
In Malaysia, reasonably such monthly assistance could be 50% of wages or RM1,000, whichever the higher. There is already speculation that Malaysia maybe facing difficult time, and there is a possibility that some workers may be out of a job.
MTUC joins the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) in calling on employers not to dismiss their employees following the expected slowdown in economic growth this year (Bernama, 26/1/2015), and reiterates the importance of trade unions especially in difficult times. Trade Unions would be able to sit down with employers and work out concrete solutions that will benefit both worker and employer whist manoeuvring turbulent periods.
To ensure workers are kept employed, the Malaysian government now provides financial assistance to companies to conduct trainings during slow periods so that workers will continue to be in employment. This may work in some cases but not all – as we still see workers being terminated and retrenched, and these need urgent temporary financial assistance immediately for the wellbeing of these workers and their families.
This assistance can reliably only come from the government, and it is proposed that this is done through SOCSO/PERKESO. The employer, being mostly companies, is unreliable because many just end up with no monies in their coffers even to pay out back-wages or even termination benefits.
MTUC urges that Malaysia immediately put in place this necessary social protection for workers that find themselves suddenly with no employment and income, will prevent these workers and their families from sliding down the slippery slope of poverty.
N. Gopal Kishnam Secretary General
The worker in Malaysia, if he/she were to lose their job, requires immediate emergency financial assistance whilst he looks for another employment. Today, the worker is burdened with monthly financial obligations like food, clothing, basic amenities (water, electricity, sewage bills, telecommunication and television), healthcare, transportation and children’s education. Additionally, most workers have monthly financial obligations to make payments towards home and car loans.
Due to the lack of a good, efficient and affordable public transport system in most parts of Malaysia, the worker has been forced into having to purchase a car, whereby on an average this entails an average monthly payment of RM500 to the loan provider. Likewise, with the Malaysian government’s push for workers to buy their own homes, many have bought houses and this too means monthly loan payments. Many workers also buy furniture and household appliances through hire-purchase schemes.
As such, if a worker is suddenly wrongfully dismissed, it creates great financial problems to the worker and their families, and there is an urgent need to put in place an emergency unemployment assistance scheme as is now present in many countries, including neighbouring Thailand. This assistance would be temporary in nature, lasting possibly for a period of maybe not more than 6 -12 months, being the time required for the out of job worker to find a suitable new employment. Without such emergency financial assistance, the unemployed can very easily slide into abject poverty – losing their home, having their car towed away, their furniture and household appliance re-possessed.
The Thailand’s Unemployment Assistance program which has been operational since 2004, provides ‘for unemployment resulted from termination of employment or laid-off, the worker will receive 50% of wages for not more than 180 days within 1 year’. There were of course conditions that the said applicant be ready to make all necessary efforts to find employment, and even undergo whatever required skills training.
In Malaysia, reasonably such monthly assistance could be 50% of wages or RM1,000, whichever the higher. There is already speculation that Malaysia maybe facing difficult time, and there is a possibility that some workers may be out of a job.
MTUC joins the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) in calling on employers not to dismiss their employees following the expected slowdown in economic growth this year (Bernama, 26/1/2015), and reiterates the importance of trade unions especially in difficult times. Trade Unions would be able to sit down with employers and work out concrete solutions that will benefit both worker and employer whist manoeuvring turbulent periods.
To ensure workers are kept employed, the Malaysian government now provides financial assistance to companies to conduct trainings during slow periods so that workers will continue to be in employment. This may work in some cases but not all – as we still see workers being terminated and retrenched, and these need urgent temporary financial assistance immediately for the wellbeing of these workers and their families.
This assistance can reliably only come from the government, and it is proposed that this is done through SOCSO/PERKESO. The employer, being mostly companies, is unreliable because many just end up with no monies in their coffers even to pay out back-wages or even termination benefits.
MTUC urges that Malaysia immediately put in place this necessary social protection for workers that find themselves suddenly with no employment and income, will prevent these workers and their families from sliding down the slippery slope of poverty.
N. Gopal Kishnam Secretary General
No comments:
Post a Comment