75 - GAJI MINIMA UNTUK SEMUA TERMASUK PEKERJA MIGRAN - Tidak harus berlaku pemotongan gaji pekerja untuk majikan menebus bayaran levi –

Penterjemahan Bahasa Malaysia

Joint Statement/Kenyataan Bersama – 5/2/2013 - kini 75

GAJI MINIMA UNTUK SEMUA TERMASUK PEKERJA MIGRAN

- Tidak harus berlaku pemotongan gaji pekerja untuk majikan menebus bayaran levi –

MINIMUM WAGES FOR ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MIGRANT WORKERS

- No to Wage Deduction to recover Levy Payable By Employers -

Kami, 75 pertubuhan masyarakat umum, kesatuan sekerja dan kumpulan adalah terkejut dengan keputusan terkini cabinet Malaysia pada 30/1/2013 untuk membenarkan majikan pekerja migrant menebus kembali wang levi,  yang terpaksa majikan membayar kerajaan Malaysia untuk  mengambil pekerja migran kerja, daripada pekerja migrant melalui pemotongan gaji. 

Berasaskan undang-undang, pekerja di Malaysia seharusnya menerima gaji minima RM900[USD291] (Semenanjung Malaysia) dan RM800[USD259] (Sabah dan Sarawak) mulai 1/1/2013.Khalid Atan, Presiden Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC) menyatakan bahawa jika kini pekerja migran diperlukan membayar levi, maka polisi gaji minima akan tidak memberikan mereka apa-apa faedah, kerana apa kelebihan yang akan dinikmati penambahan gaji akan hilang begitu sahaja untuk levi [“…if workers were asked to pay the levy, the minimum wages policy would not benefit them at all, as whatever little increase in salary they enjoyed, would be wiped out with the levy payment…” [Star, 10/1/2013, MTUC: Don't give in to employers' demand on foreign workers levy]]

Setengah majikan  cuba mengelak obligasi membayar gaji minima, yang merupakan gaji pokok tidak termasauk kerja lebih masa, elaun sedia ada dan faedah kerja yang lain. Mereka cuba mengatur semula pembayaran kepada pekerja dengan memasukkan semua elaun lain, insentif dan faedah untuk sampai kepada angka RM900, di mana ini adalah salah. Setengah majikan cuba mendapatkan pekerja mereka menandatangani dokumen mempersetujui pindaan kepada pembayaran, di mana ini lebih mudah apabila tidak wujud kesatuan sekerja. Pekerja, secara umum, tidak ada tempat untuk mengadu, atau pilihan dalam hal perkara ini khususnya apabila kini ramai pekerja yang telah diambil kerja berasaskan kontrak pekerjaan jangka pendek. Keengganan pekerja bererti tidak ada pembaharuan/perlanjutan kontrak sedia ada atau tidak ada kontrak pekerjaan baru apabila kontrak sedia ada tamat.

Untuk mengelak obligasi membayar gaji minima,  kerajaan Malaysia juga telah membenarkan majikan hak untuk memohon untuk penangguhan pembayaran gaji minima, dan melalui Perintah Gaji Minima(Pindaan) 2012 bertarikh 29/12/2012, nyata kerajaan telah mengizinkan lebih daripada 500 majikan penangguhan untuk mula membayar gaji minima. Apa yang salah dalam proses ini adalah bahawa pekerja yang akan terima padah keputusan ini (‘aggrieved’) dan/atau kesatuan sekerja mereka tidak diberikan sebarang hak untuk didengar sebelum permohonan majikan untuk menafikan hak pekerja ini untuk mendapatkan gaji minima ditangguhkan diputuskan.

Kerajaan Malaysia, dahulu, berasaskan permohonan setengah majikan, telah membenarkan majikan membuat potongan gaji dan/atau pendahuluan kepada pekerja bercanggah dengan peruntukan umum undang-undang, di mana ini dilakukan dengan niat membenarkan majikan mendapat kembali daripada pekerja migran segala belanja majikan membawa pekerja migrant tersebut untuk kerja untuk mereka di Malaysia. Kadang-kadang, ini bukan sahaja untuk majikan mendapatkan kembali levi yang telah dibayar sahaja, tetapi juga kesemua kos majikan untuk merekrut dan membawa masuk pekerja migran. Kebenaran ini juga telah diberikan tanpa konsultasi atau persetujuan pekerja atau kesatuan sekerja. Mulai 1/4/2009, kerajaan Malaysia menghentikan amalan ini, dan menjelaskan bahawa majikan yang sepatutnya membayar levi, dan majikan dihalang mendapatkan kembali wang ini daripada pekerja migran.

Labour Director-General Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim dilapurkan menyatakan bahawa,”Rational disebalik tindakan memerlukan  majikan membayar levi adalah untuk tidak mengallakkan(‘discourage’) mereka  mendapatkan pekerja migrant[“…The rationale behind getting employers to bear the levy was to discourage them from employing foreigners…” [Star, 16/4/2009, Employers can deduct levy from wages, again]]. Maka, keputusan kini memerlukan pekerja migrant sendiri bayar levi sememangnya membatalkan niat kerajaan mengenakan levi , iaitu untuk tidak mangalakkan majikan mengambil pekerja migran.  

Keputusan baru kerajaan ini adalah untuk mengurangkan kos pengambillan pekerja majikan, kata Menteri Kewangan II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah [ ‘… is to alleviate the hiring cost for employers, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah...’ [Star, 30/1/2013, Cabinet: Foreign workers to pay levy instead of employers with immediate effect]. Jika kerajaan Malaysia mahu mengurangkan masalah kewangan majikan yang mengambil pekerja migrant, secara wajar apa yang patut dilakukan oleh kerajaan adalah mengurangkan atau membatalkan levi tersebut – bukan sama sekali mengalihkan beban dari majikan kepada pekerja.

Pekerja migrant banyak berkorban apabila memilih datang ke Malaysia untuk bekerja dengan majikan. Mereka terpaksa meninggalkan suami/isteri, anak, keluarga dan kawan kerana undang-undang Malaysia hanya membenarkan pekerja migran sendiri masuk dan bekerja di Malaysia, di mana pekerja migrant juga dihalang jatuh cinta dan kahwin semasa tempoh pekerjaan di Malaysia, di mana ini kebiasaannya adalah untuk 5 tahun. Pekerja migrant juga biasa menghadapi kehutangan besar bila mereka ke Malaysia, kerana mereka terpaksa membayar, antara lain, ejen rekruitmen, di mana ini termasuk bayaran sah dan tidak sah. Semasa di Malaysia, mereka diikat kepada satu majikan – tidak ada hak menukar majikan. 

Bila mereka menuntut hak, walaupun melalui proses dan laluan yang sah, mereka biasanya diberhentikan kerja – di mana ini juga bermakna pembatalan visa/pas kerja mereka justeru hak untuk terus berada(atau bekerja) di Malaysia. Pembatalan pas/permit kerja dilakukan oleh kerajaan Malaysia tanpa mengambil kira sama ada terdapat aduan, tuntutan atau kes yang masih tertunggak yang belum selesai berkenaan hak pekerja.

Hakikat tidak tentu dan bahaya (‘precarious’) pekerja migrant menjadikan mereka terbuka dan senang dieksploitasi oleh majikan, yang sedar bahawa amat senang menafikan hak pekerja dan juga terlepas daripada undang-undang dengan mudah. Sehingga undang-undang dan polisi dipinda untuk menjamin hak pekerja migran, secara wajar pekerja migrant menjadi pekerja pilihan berbanding dengan pekerka tempatan kerana senang sekali mengeksploitasi pekerja migrant.

Kami menuntut kerajaan Malaysia segera menarik balik atau membatalkan keputusan kabinet Malaysia yang dibuat pada 30/1/2013(Rabu) membenarkan majikan pekerja migran mengambil kembali(recover) duit levi yang mereka bayar kerajaan melalui pemotongan gaji pekerja migran

Kami mangambil pendirian bahawa semua pekerja, termasuk pekerja migrant, berhak menerima giji minima, di mana ini adalah gaji pokok dan tidak harus termasuk elaun, faedah dan insentif kerja  yang lain. Majikan tidak harus dibenarkan mengeluarkan apa-apa hak dan faedah yang wujud sebelum April 2012, iaitu tarikh Perintah Gaji Minima 2012 berkuatkuasa, daripada kontrak pekerjaan sedia ada dan yang akan datang.

Kami juga menuntut kerajaan Malaysia untuk mansuhkan segala bentuk diskriminasi terhadap pekerja, berkenaan termasuk, diskriminasi berasaskan kewarganegaraan, jantina dan tempuh perjanjian kerja mereka. 

Charles Hector

Pranom Somwong

Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud

Bagi pihak 75 kumpulan yang dinyatakan: 

ALIRAN

Angkatan Rakyat Muda Parti Rakyat Malaysia (ARM-PRM)

Asian Migrant Centre (AMC), Hong Kong 

Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) Hong Kong

Asia Monitor Resource Centre, Hong Kong

Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law And Development (APWLD)

Asia Pacific Mission For Migrants (APMM ), Hong Kong

Association of Indonesian Migrant Worker in Hong Kong (ATKI-HK)

Bangladeshi Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA)

Burma Campaign Malaysia

BWI (Building and Wood Worker's International)

CAW (Committee for Asian Women)

Centre for Human Rights and Development-Sri Lanka

Center for Orang  Asli Concerns (COAC), Malaysia

CEREAL - Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral – Guadalajara, Mexico

Clean Clothes Campaign( CCC )

Community Action Network (CAN), Malaysia

Community Development Services, Sri Lanka

COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations), India

Electronic Industry Employees Union Western Region (EIEUWR), Malaysia

Far East Overseas Nepalese Association (FEONA), Hong Kong

Filipino Migrant Workers Union (FMWU)

GoodElectronics Network

Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com

IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh

International Domestic Workers Network

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd.

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja MHS Aviation Berhad

Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan (EIEUSR), Malaysia

LSCW (Legal Support for Children and Women), Cambodia

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)

MAP Foundation, Thailand

Migrant Domestic Workers Trust, India

Migrant Forum, India

Migrant Health Association in Korea

MIGRANTE International

Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions, Inc. (MMCEAI)

Mission For Migrant Workers - Hong Kong

MTUC (Malaysian Trade Union Congress)

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)

National Domestic Workers Movement, India

National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW)

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

NLD-LA (National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas), Malaysia

NUBE (National Union of Banking Employees), Malaysia

OKUP (Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program) in Bangladesh

Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)

Paper & Paper Products Manufacturing Employees' Union Of Malaysia (PPPMEU)

 Persatuan  Sahabat  Wanita, Selangor

Persatuan  Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)

Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)

PILAR (United Indonesians in Hong Kong against Overcharging) , Hong Kong

Pusat KOMAS (KOMAS)

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia {SABM}

SUARAM, Malaysia

Tamilnadu Domestic Workers Union, India

Tamilnadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust, India

Tenaganita, Malaysia

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), Singapore

United for Foreign Domestic Workers' Rights (UFDWR )

WAC, Philippines

WARBE Development Foundation-Bangladesh

Women Workers Lead

WH4C – Workers Hub For Change

Yayasan LINTAS NUSA - Batam – Indonesia

Solidaritas Perempuan (SP) / Women's Solidarity for Human Rights, Indonesia

SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), India

Electronic Industry Employees Union Eastern  Region(EIEUER), Malaysia[KSIEWTSM]  

MakeITFair

Nepal Labour Journalists' Association

Migrant  Care, Indonesia

CIMS (Centre for Indian Migrant's Studies)

United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)

Kav LaOved – Protecting Workers' Rights

 

75 Groups:-MINIMUM WAGES FOR ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MIGRANT WORKERS - No to Wage Deduction to recover Levy Payable By Employers -

75 Groups:-MINIMUM WAGES FOR ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MIGRANT WORKERS - No to Wage Deduction to recover Levy Payable By Employers -

Joint Statement- 5/2/2013 (now 75)

MINIMUM WAGES FOR ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MIGRANT WORKERS

- No to Wage Deduction to recover Levy Payable By Employers -

We, the undersigned 75 civil society organizations, trade unions and groups are shocked with the recent decision of the Malaysian cabinet on 30/1/2013 to allow employers of migrant workers to recover levy that they paid the government to employ foreign workers from migrant workers through wage deductions. 

According to the law, workers in Malaysia were to receive minimum wages of RM900[USD291](for Peninsular Malaysia) and RM800[USD259] (for Sabah and Sarawak) as of 1/1/2013. Khalid Atan, the President of the Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC) said, “…if workers were asked to pay the levy, the minimum wages policy would not benefit them at all, as whatever little increase in salary they enjoyed, would be wiped out with the levy payment…” [Star, 10/1/2013, MTUC: Don't give in to employers' demand on foreign workers levy]

Some employers have also been trying to avoid this obligation to pay minimum wages, which is basic wages not inclusive overtime, existing allowances and other benefits. Some do it by re-structuring worker remuneration by including all other allowances, incentives and benefits to make up the RM900, which is very wrong. Some employers are making employees to sign documents agreeing to these changes, whereby this is made easier when there are no worker unions. Workers generally have no avenue of complaint, or even choice in the matter especially when many now are employed based on short-term employment contract. A refusal by the worker means a non-renewal or no new employment contracts when their contracts expire.

To avoid paying workers minimum wages, the Malaysian government also allowed employers the right to apply for a delay in paying workers minimum wages, and vide Minimum Wages(Amendment) Order 2012 dated 28/12/2012, the government allowed more than 500 employers to delay paying workers minimum wages. What was blatantly wrong in this process was that the aggrieved workers and/or their unions were not given any right to be heard before the employer’s application to deny them their entitlement to minimum wages was approved.

The Malaysian government, in the past, on the application of certain employers, allowed them to make wage deductions and/or wage advances, contrary to the general provisions in law with the intention to allow employers to recover from migrant workers monies expended by employers to get migrant workers to Malaysia to work for them. This included sometimes not just a means to recover levy paid, but also all other costs incurred by employers to recruit and bring in migrant workers. Approvals were given by the government with no consultation or agreement of the worker or their unions. As of 1/4/2009, the Malaysian government stopped this practice, and made it clear that it is employers that have to pay the levy and they cannot recover the said sum from migrant workers.

Labour Director-General Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim was reported saying that, “…The rationale behind getting employers to bear the levy was to discourage them from employing foreigners…” [Star, 16/4/2009, Employers can deduct levy from wages, again]. As such, this current move to make migrant workers pay the levy removes the very intention of levy, i.e. to discourage employers from employing foreign workers.

The reason for the new decision ‘… is to alleviate the hiring cost for employers, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah...’ [Star, 30/1/2013, Cabinet: Foreign workers to pay levy instead of employers with immediate effect]. If the Malaysian government now wants to reduce the financial burden of employers who hire migrant workers, then rightfully the government should reduce or remove the levy – not shift the burden to workers.

Migrant workers sacrifice a lot when they elect to come to Malaysia to work. They have to leave behind the spouses, children, family and friends for Malaysian law allows them to only come alone and work in Malaysia, and they also are barred from falling in love and getting married during their employment period  which is usually for at least 5 years. They also end up incurring substantial debt when they come, for they have to pay, amongst others recruitment agents, most times these payments include both legal and ‘illegal’ payments. Whilst in Malaysia, they are bound to just one employer – having no right to change employers.

When they claim rights, even through existing legal avenues, they generally are terminated and their employment pass/permits are also cancelled depriving them the right to stay (or work) legally in Malaysia until their claims are resolved. The termination of these passes/permits is done by the Malaysian government irrespective of whether there are outstanding claims or pending cases concerning the said worker’s rights.

This precarious reality of migrant workers makes them vulnerable to exploitation by some employers, knowing that it is most easy to violate worker rights and then get off scot free. Until laws and policies are amended to protect migrant’s worker rights, naturally migrant workers become the preferred choice over local workers as they are certainly a more easily exploited class of workers.

We call on the Malaysian government to immediately rescind the decision made by the Malaysian cabinet on Wednesday(30/1/2013) to allow employers of migrant workers to recover the levy they pay the government by deduction of wages of migrant workers.

We take the position that all workers, including migrant workers, are entitled to receive minimum wages, whereby this is the basic wage and should not include allowances, benefits and other work incentives. Employers should not be permitted to remove pre-April 2012 worker entitlements and benefits, being the date the Minimum Wage Order 2012 came into force, from existing and subsequent employment contracts.

We call on the Malaysian government to end all forms of discrimination against workers, with regard to, amongst others, their nationality, gender, duration of their employment contracts.

Charles Hector

Pranom Somwong

Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud

For and on behalf the 75  groups listed:

ALIRAN

Angkatan Rakyat Muda Parti Rakyat Malaysia (ARM-PRM)

Asian Migrant Centre (AMC), Hong Kong 

Asian Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB) Hong Kong

Asia Monitor Resource Centre, Hong Kong

Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law And Development (APWLD)

Asia Pacific Mission For Migrants (APMM ), Hong Kong

Association of Indonesian Migrant Worker in Hong Kong (ATKI-HK)

Bangladeshi Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA)

Burma Campaign Malaysia

BWI (Building and Wood Worker's International)

CAW (Committee for Asian Women)

Centre for Human Rights and Development-Sri Lanka

Center for Orang  Asli Concerns (COAC), Malaysia

CEREAL - Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral – Guadalajara, Mexico

Clean Clothes Campaign( CCC )

Community Action Network (CAN), Malaysia

Community Development Services, Sri Lanka

COVA (Confederation of Voluntary Associations), India

Electronic Industry Employees Union Western Region (EIEUWR), Malaysia

Far East Overseas Nepalese Association (FEONA), Hong Kong

Filipino Migrant Workers Union (FMWU)

GoodElectronics Network

Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com

IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh

International Domestic Workers Network

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd.

Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja MHS Aviation Berhad

Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan (EIEUSR), Malaysia

LSCW (Legal Support for Children and Women), Cambodia

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement (DEMA)

MAP Foundation, Thailand

Migrant Domestic Workers Trust, India

Migrant Forum, India

Migrant Health Association in Korea

MIGRANTE International

Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions, Inc. (MMCEAI)

Mission For Migrant Workers - Hong Kong

MTUC (Malaysian Trade Union Congress)

Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)

National Domestic Workers Movement, India

National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW)

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

NLD-LA (National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas), Malaysia

NUBE (National Union of Banking Employees), Malaysia

OKUP (Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program) in Bangladesh

Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)

Paper & Paper Products Manufacturing Employees' Union Of Malaysia (PPPMEU)

 Persatuan  Sahabat  Wanita, Selangor

Persatuan  Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)

Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)

PILAR (United Indonesians in Hong Kong against Overcharging) , Hong Kong

Pusat KOMAS (KOMAS)

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia {SABM}

SUARAM, Malaysia

Tamilnadu Domestic Workers Union, India

Tamilnadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust, India

Tenaganita, Malaysia

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), Singapore

United for Foreign Domestic Workers' Rights (UFDWR )

WAC, Philippines

WARBE Development Foundation-Bangladesh

Women Workers Lead

WH4C – Workers Hub For Change

Yayasan LINTAS NUSA - Batam – Indonesia

Solidaritas Perempuan (SP) / Women's Solidarity for Human Rights, Indonesia

SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), India

Electronic Industry Employees Union Eastern  Region(EIEUER), Malaysia[KSIEWTSM]  

MakeITFair

Nepal Labour Journalists' Association

Migrant  Care, Indonesia

CIMS (Centre for Indian Migrant's Studies)

United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)

Kav LaOved – Protecting Workers' Rights

--

Revoke levy decision, govt told (FMT News, 5/2/2013)

Revoke levy decision, govt told

Priscilla Prasena | February 5, 2013 

 

A group of 67 organisations and trade unions want the government to stop employers from deducting wages of foreign workers to pay for their levy.

PETALING JAYA: A group of 67 civil society organisations and trade unions today expressed dismay over the government’s decision to allow foreign workers’ employers to deduct wages of the workers to recover the levy employers had paid the government to employ these workers.

The group also claimed that some employers have also been trying to avoid the obligation of paying minimum wages, which was not inclusive of overtime, allowances and other benefits.

“Some do it by re-structuring worker remuneration by including all other allowances, incentives and benefits to make up the RM900, which is very wrong.

“Some employers are making employees sign documents agreeing to these changes, whereby this is made easier when there are no worker unions. Workers generally have no avenue of complaint, or even choice in the matter especially when many now are employed based on short-term employment contracts.

“A refusal by the worker means a non-renewal or no new employment contracts when their contracts expire,” it said.

Workers in Malaysia received a minimum wage of RM900 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM800 for Sabah and Sarawak starting Jan 1, this year.

The group also claimed that to avoid paying workers minimum wages, the Malaysian government also allowed employers the right to apply for a delay in paying workers’ minimum wages, and vide Minimum Wages (Amendment) Order 2012 dated Dec 12, 2012, the government allowed more than 500 employers to delay paying workers minimum wages.

“What was blatantly wrong in this process was that the aggrieved workers or their unions were not given any right to be heard before the employer’s application to deny them their entitlement to minimum wages was approved,” the group said in the statement.

They claimed that the government in the past, on the application of certain employers, allowed them to make wage deductions or wage advances, contrary to the general provisions in law with the intention to allow employers to recover from migrant workers monies expended by employers to get migrant workers to Malaysia to work for them.

“This included sometimes not just a means to recover levy paid, but also all other costs incurred by employers to recruit and bring in migrant workers.

“Approvals were given by the government with no consultation or agreement of the worker or their unions. As of April, 2009, the Malaysian government stopped this practice, and made it clear that it is employers that have to pay the levy and they cannot recover the said sum from migrant workers.

“As such, this current move to make migrant workers pay the levy removes the very intention of the levy, which is to discourage employers from employing foreign workers,” it said.

Substantial debt

The group said if the government now wants to reduce the financial burden of employers who hire migrant workers, then rightfully the government should reduce or remove the levy – not shift the burden to workers.

“Migrant workers sacrifice a lot when they elect to come to Malaysia to work. They have to leave behind spouses, children, family and friends for Malaysian law allows them to only come alone and work in Malaysia, and they also are barred from falling in love and getting married during their employment period, which is usually for at least five years.

“They also end up incurring substantial debt when they come, for they have to pay, amongst others recruitment agents, most times these payments include both legal and ‘illegal’ payments.

“Whilst in Malaysia, they are bound to just one employer – having no right to change employers. When they claim rights, even through existing legal avenues, they generally are terminated and their employment permits are also cancelled depriving them the right to stay or work legally in Malaysia until their claims are resolved.

“The termination of these permits is done by the Malaysian government irrespective of whether there are outstanding claims or pending cases concerning the said worker’s rights. Until laws and policies are amended to protect migrant worker rights, naturally migrant workers become the preferred choice over local workers as they are certainly a more easily exploited class of workers,” the group said.

They called on the government to immediately rescind the decision made by the Cabinet to allow employers of migrant workers to recover the levy they pay the government by deduction of wages of migrant workers.

“We take the position that all workers, including migrant workers, are entitled to receive minimum wages, whereby this is the basic wage and should not include allowances, benefits and other work incentives.

“Employers should not be permitted to remove pre-April 2012 worker entitlements and benefits, being the date the Minimum Wage Order 2012 came into force, from existing and subsequent employment contracts,” the statement said.- FMT News, 5/2/2013, Revoke levy decision, govt told

MTUC, 12 individu dapat kebenaran merayu

MTUC, 12 individu dapat kebenaran merayu

January 30, 2013

 

PUTRAJAYA, 30 Jan — Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) dan 12 pengguna air diberi kebenaran untuk merayu kepada Mahkamah Persekutuan berhubung keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan bahawa mereka tidak mempuyai hak di sisi undang-undang untuk mempunyai akses kepada perjanjian konsesi air dan laporan audit.

Panel lima anggota Mahkamah Persekutuan, yang dipengerusikan hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan Datuk Hashim Mohd Yusoff, sebulat suara memberi kebenaran kepada mereka untuk mengemukakan rayuan kepada Mahkamah Persekutuan.

"Kami membuat keputusan untuk memberi kebenaran kepada mereka mengemukakan rayuan berhubung satu persoalan (undang-undang) yang dicadangkan," kata Hashim ketika meluluskan permohonan mereka untuk membuat rayuan.

Panel itu turut dianggotai Datuk Ahmad Maarop, Datuk Hasan Lah, Datuk Zainun Ali dan Datuk Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha.

Persoalan undang-undang yang dimaksudkan ialah sama ada ujian locus standi (kedudukan undang-undang) dalam keputusan Mahkamah Agung pada 1988 dalam kes Kerajaan Malaysia lwn Lim Kit Siang masih boleh diguna pakai berikutan peruntukan sedia ada dalam Peraturan-peraturan Mahkamah 2012.

Keputusan hari ini membuka jalan bagi Mahkamah Persekutuan untuk meneliti semula kes yang dikendalikan Mahkamah Persekutuan pada 1988 - Kerajaan Malaysia lwn Lim Kit Siang - berhubung keperluan menentukan locus standi seseorang untuk memulakan semakan semula kehakiman dalam kes yang mempunyai kepentingan awam.

Dalam hujahnya, peguam Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, yang mewakili MTUC dan 12 individu berkenaan, berkata keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan itu menyekat seseorang yang berasa terkilan untuk mengemukakan kes yang mempunyai kepentingan awam.

Dalam kes berkenaan, Lim Kit Siang, yang menjadi ketua pembangkang di Dewan Rakyat ketika itu, memohon mendapatkan perisytiharan bahawa surat hasrat yang dikeluarkan kerajaan kepada United Engineers (M) Bhd bagi pembinaan Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan, adalah tidak sah.

Mahkamah Agung dalam keputusan majoriti 3-2, mendapati Lim tidak mempunyai locus standi untuk bertindak demikian kerana beliau (Lim) gagal menunjukkan bahawa hak peribadinya dicabuli atau beliau telah mengalami kerugian khas.

Bagi kes ini (MTUC dan 12 individu), dalam keputusan 2-1 pada 2011, Mahkamah Rayuan mendapati MTUC dan 12 yang lain tidak diberi akses kepada laporan audit dan perjanjian konsesi air yang ditandatangani antara Kerajaan Persekutuan, Kerajaan Negeri Selangor dan Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) atas alasan mereka tidak mempunyai locus standi untuk berbuat demikian.

Hakim-hakim Mahkamah Rayuan ketika itu (kini hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan) Datin Paduka Zaleha Zahari dan Datuk Seri Abu Samah Nordin berpendapat bahawa MTUC dan individu berkenaan "bukan merupakan orang yang terjejas teruk".

Bagaimanapun, Hakim Mahkamah Rayuan Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus, yang tidak bersetuju dengan pendapat itu, berpendirian bahawa mereka mempunyai locus standi memandangkan air adalah keperluan asas dalam kehidupan.

MTUC dan 12 yang lain, termasuk bekas pengerusinya Syed Sharir Syed Mohamud, serta dua kanak-kanak berusia 10 dan 15 tahun, menamakan Kementerian Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air dan Kerajaan Malaysia dalam saman mereka.

Pada 14 Jun, 2007, mereka mendapat kebenaran Mahkamah Tinggi untuk memulakan semakan semula kehakiman terhadap keengganan kementerian itu memberi mereka akses kepada dokumen berkenaan.

Mereka berkata sebagai pengguna air di Selangor, Putrajaya dan Kuala Lumpur, mereka berhak mendapat akses kepada laporan audit dan perjanjian konsesi yang ditandatangani pada 15 Dis 2004.

Mereka mendakwa laporan audit berkenaan menjadi asas bagi kenaikan tarif air sebanyak 15 peratus di Lembah Klang, yang diumumkan pada 14 Okt 2006.

Terdahulu, Peguam Kanan Persekutuan Suzana Atan dalam hujahnya berkata keputusan Mahkamah Agung pada 1988 masih terpakai dan oleh itu, kebenaran merayu tidak wajar diberi kepada pemohon. — Bernama - Malaysian Insider, 30/1/2013, MTUC, 12 individu dapat kebenaran merayu

Presiden UNION mogok lapar - protest pembuangan kerja 137 pekerja kerana kegiatan Kesatuan Kerja

Kim Jungnam has been hospitalized; KGEU vice presidents have stepped in to replace him.

Kim Jungnam (pictured above), the president of the Korean Government Employees Union, was on the 16th day of his hunger strike when he collapsed a few hours ago. He was rushed to hospital. Vice presidents of his union have stepped in to take his place and continue the protest. Now more than ever I'm asking for your help to grow our online campaign protesting the sacking of Korean trade unionists -- including Kim -- for simply being trade unionists.   It's time for the President-elect of Korea, Park Guenhye, to recognize the union and reinstate the sacked union leaders. Our brothers and sisters in Korea are counting on our help. Please do the following four things today: If you've not yet done so, click here to show your support for the campaign. If you're on Facebook, visit LabourStart's page there and make sure to 'like' or 'share' our photo of Kim (the same one you see above). If you're on Twitter, tweet that you support the campaign - making sure to include the short version of the URL: http://bit.ly/Vl9fLP If your union has a mailing list, spread the word to as many members as you can, today, about the campaign.   Thanks very much. Eric Lee   The President of the Korean Government Employees' Union (KGEU), Kim Jungnam, launched a hunger strike in the streets of Seoul outside the offices of the Presidential transition committee on15 January. He is protesting the sacking of 137 workers, among them the union president and general secretary, who are being punished for their union activities. They are accused of being leaders of an "illegal organization" -- the KGEU. President-elect Park Guenhye, who will take office on 25 February, has pledged to achieve social integration. The KGEU is demanding that she recognize the union and reinstate the sacked employees. The KGEU believes that the reinstatement of those workers is a human rights issue and demands that the government listen to the International Labour Organization which has been urging Korea to guarantee trade union rights including freedom of association for many years now. Kim will continue his hunger strike until these issues are resolved. We call upon trade unionists around the world to show their solidarity by sending off messages of protest and solidarity today.

Several hundred retrenched workers stage protest

Mereka selalu tidak mahu pekerja strike atau piket atau demo, dan akan cuba minta perkerja pi runding secara aman. Kenapa? Isu atau masalah pekerja boleh dirahsiakan daripada pengetahuan warga awam - justeru pekerja tidak akan mendapatkan sokongan - dan tidak ada tekanan atas majikan atau kerajaan. Saya berfikiran lebih baik terus protest - dan pada masa yang sama boleh diadakan menyelesaikan isu pekerja (bukan perbincangan menghentikan protest) - Bila penyelesaian dapat dicapai - baru berhenti protest. Ini akan memastikan penyelesaian dapat cepat dicapai. Jika protest sudah berhenti, biasa proses perbincangan, jika pun diadakan, akan sengaja dilewatkan ... Jika protes masih berterusan semasa perbincangan, senang juga kepimpinan pekerja segera merujuk kepada pekerja untuk mendapatkan pendapat atau persetujuan cadangan penyelesaian....Kalaupun tidak mahu protes/picket dilanjutkan depan kilang, dsb - sediakan tempat untuk pekerja tunggu beramai-ramai sehingga siap perbincangan dan penyelesaian dicapai...Ini pendapat saya, apa pendapat saudara?

 

Retrenched workers stage protest

by Yunus Yussup reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 29, 2013, Tuesday

SEEKING DIALOGUE: Almost one thousand local workers at the peaceful demonstration express their support for fellow local workers who were retrenched as Madang (black shirt, right) tries to calm them down.

BINTULU: Several hundred retrenched local workers from several sub-contractors operating in Samalaju Industrial Park (SIP) here staged a peaceful protest yesterday.

The protesters, supported by colleagues who are still employed, started gathering at the main road connecting several main plants at 5am yesterday to express their dissatisfaction over their retrenchment.

Local workers here felt their employers had neglected their welfare and requested for a dialogue with their employers on Sunday to solve the issues.

However, the companies ignored their call for a meeting and this led to the workers staging their peaceful demonstration yesterday.

The protest brought the whole operations and construction works at the site to a standstill for the whole day.

The police and personnel from General Operations Force led by the Bintulu police chief Superintendent Madang Usat were on standby for any eventualities but the picket was held peacefully.

Most of the workers were terminated without notice as some were not registered with Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and covered by Social Security Organisation (Sosco) while others did not even have a proper contract for their employment.

One of the workers said, upon receiving the termination of his service he did ask for explanation but one of the foreign companies gave many excuses.

Instead they were given two options of either accepting their service termination or stay on but with wage deduction.

It was said that the employers preferred foreign workers and that some 300 of them were on standby to replace the local workers.

The local workers also brought up other issues brought up against their employers.

Senator Datuk Pau Chiong Ung and several leaders of the opposition parties were also present at the site.

Pau later had a closed-door discussion with several representatives from Tokuyama and Chiyoda.

Meanwhile, Bintulu MP Datuk Tiong King Sing expressed his deep concern over the recurrence of the workers’ strike here yesterday.

In a press statement, Tiong, who is also chairman of BN Backbenchers’ Club, appealed for calm and dialogue between the two parties to iron out their differences.

He said he was now overseas but had been briefed by his service centre on the incident and that he was glad order had been restored prior to negotiation between the workers and their employers today.

He said through the phone of Pau, he had spoken to the workers’ representative, and the workers had agreed to end the strike paving the way for the further talks between the workers and their employers.

Tiong added he would not comment further now, as he had to listen to both sides on the issues.- Borneo Post, 29/1/2013, Retrenched workers stage protest

Pekerja 'outsourcing' harus segera dijadikan pekerja tetap dengan majikan tuan punya tempat kerja

Isu 'contractor for labour' atau 'pekerja outsourcing' bukan sahaja isu di Malaysia, tetapi juga di Indonesia. Keadaannya, mungkin bukan lagi seteruk keadaannya di Indonesia di mana lebih kurang 70% pekerja adalah pekerja 'outsourcing' atau pekerja kontrak jangka pendek. Atau adakah situasi di Malaysia juga sama.

Perjuangan untuk hak kerja tetap sampai bersara, dengan hak untuk mempunyai perhubungan pekerjaaan terus dengan majikan tuan punya tempat kerja/perniagaan tanpa penglibatan pihak ketiga adalah perjuangan penting untuk semua pekerja dan rakyat prihatin...

Serikat Akan Perjuangkan Buruh Outsourcing sebagai Pekerja Tetap

Medan, (Analisa). Sistem kerja outsourcing masih menjadi kendala bagi sejumlah pekerja di Indonesia, termasuk di Sumatera Utara. Beberapa aturan dalam sistem kerja seperti itu harus benar-benar dibenahi, baik secara unsur-unsur yang ada dalam aturan yang berlaku, maupun penegakan aturannya di lapangan. 

Oleh sebab itu, selain beberapa masalah ketenagakerjaan lainnya, masalah ini akan menjadi pembahasan serius dalam setiap rapat kerja Serikat Buruh Seluruh Indonesia (SBSI).

Hal itu diungkapkan Ketua SBSI Sumut Edward Pakpahan saat Rakorwil Konfederasi KSBSI yang diselenggarakan Jumat (11/1) di Jalan Darusalam Medan. Dalam agendanya, Rakorwil Konfederasi KSBSI yang berlangsung sejak 11-13 Januari 2013 akan memperjuangkan buruh outsourcing menjadi buruh tetap. 

"Ada beberapa hal dalam agenda yang menjadi pembahasan serius dalam rapat kerja nanti, salah satunya mengenai penguatan intenal SBSI sendiri. Selain itu, persoalan perburuhan dengan sistem outsourcing di Sumut yang masih menjadi masalah. Maka, dalam rapat kerja, hal itu pasti terus dibicarakan agar mendapat solusi yang baik," ujarnya.

Lahir solusi terhadap masalah yang berkaitan dengan sistem outsourcing yang diterapkan di beberapa perusahaan mestinya tidak akan menimbulkan hal negatif di kemudian hari, misalnya memaki pekerja outsourcing atau kontrak. "Setelah adanya Peraturan Menteri Tenaga Kerja RI Nomor 19 tahun 2003 tentang outsourching, telah dicantumkan bahwa tenaga outsourcing hanya dibolehkan di lima sektor, yaitu tenaga security, cleaning service, transportasi angkutan karyawan, katering, serta pertambangan. MPBI menginginkan adanya satuan petugas (satgas) tentang penegakan permenaker ini selama masa transisi setahun ini. Setelah itu, tidak ada outsorcing yang tidak sesuai dengan permenaker," jelasnya.

Disebutkannya, dari 36 juta buruh formal, hampir 75% buruh berstatus kontrak dan outsourcing. "Seharusnya, angka ideal adalah 70% buruh berstatus pekerja tetap dan 30% berstatus outsourcing atau kontrak. Perusahaan semestinya tidak harus beralasan lagi untuk menggunakan buruh outsorcing atau kontrak yang bisa meringankan operasional," tegasnya.

Selain itu, pihaknya akan menyatakan sikap politisasi terkait pemilihan kepala daerah yang akan berlangsung 7 Maret 2013. Dia mengatakan, pihaknya akan mendukung cagubsu yang mengutamakan kepentingan para pekerja.

Sementara itu, Wakil ketua Apindo Sumut, Johan Brien di acara yang sama menegaskan dukungannya terkait Permenaker Nomor 19 Tahun 2003 tentang sistem outsourcing. "Kita tetap akan mengikuti peraturan ketenagakerjaan, khususnya perusahaan yang tergabung ke dalam Apindo," tambahnya.

Sedangkan Kepala Dinas Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi Provinsi Sumatera Utara (Disnakertrans Provsu) Bukit Tambunan yang hadir juga menegaskan, Sumut belum menerima protes atau tanggapan penolakan dari perusahaan. "Kita belum menerima penolakan, artinya, perusahaan setuju dengan peraturan yang telah ditetapkan dan harus benar-benar ditegakkan di lapangan serta pengawasan tetap kita lakukan," tuturnya. (st) -Harian Analisa, 12/1/2013, Serikat Akan Perjuangkan Buruh Outsourcing sebagai Pekerja Tetap

Pekerja ladang piket untuk hak mereka...adakah pekerja lain akan menyokong?

Kerja tetap sehingga persaraan - itulah yang diperlukan oleh pekerja bukan kerja 'kontrak' jangka pendek - yang tidak ada jaminan kerja apabila tempoh kontrak tamat.

Perhubungan kerja dengan majikan tuan punya ladang atau kilang - bukan 'outsourcing' di mana mereka kerja di kilang dan ladang tetapi tidak menjadi pekerja-employee kilang atau ladang - tetapi pekerja-employee pihak ketiga - 'contractor for labour'..

Pekerja ladang piket untuk hak mereka tetapi di mana kerajaan? Kerajaan bertanggungjawab untuk memastikan hak dan kebajikan semua pekerja dan keluarga mereka. Kerajaan tidak ada - kerana kerajaan kini tidak lagi prihatin kepada pekerja, dan polisi mereka yang telah menghancurkan hak pekerja untuk kerja tetap, hak untuk mempunyai perhubungan kerja terus dengan majikan tuan punya kilang atau ladang...

Ex-tappers' picket over unkept promises

Friday, January 18, 2013 - 17:36

by A. Sangeetha

by S. Arulldas

Location: 

GEORGE TOWN

Twenty five former estate workers picket in front of the estate owner Neoh Choo Ee & Co. Sdn Bhd's office to demand they be directly employed to work in the company's oil palm estate

THE implementation of the Minimum Wage Order has thrown 25 Ladang Lubok Sengintah workers into plain misery.

Some who have spent more than 25 years tapping in the rubber estate in Kedah, have been thrown into the deep end of unemployment, or expected to find other means of living.

Further frustrated by broken promises by their employers, the employees picketed in front of estate owner Neoh Choo Ee and Co Sdn Bhd's office in Lebuh Pantai today.

The group were spotted holding banners and placards to voice their grouses of injustice claiming that the company refused to absorb them as direct employees into its oil palm venture adjoining the now defunct 1,000-acre wide rubber estate.

They had pinned their hopes on a promise made by Plantation Agencies Sdn Bhd (PASB) director N. Jayaraman on Aug 7 that they would be directly employed in the new venture.

However, despite having served between five and 28 years as rubber tappers and general workers, they were told on Sept 1, 2012 that they would be hired as contract workers in the palm oil estate.

Single mother S.Vasanthi said she hopes the company would relent to their direct employment demand so that she can support her family with a better salary

"We refuse to be contract workers because we won't be able to sustain with the measly salary.

"The plantation is managed by PASB on behalf of Neoh Ee Choo and they promised us direct employment but now they have rescinded the offer. They also issued us eviction notices on July 30 and Dec 1 last year, but we have nowhere to go.

"We are estate workers and we don't know any other jobs. We don't have other places to call our home too,” said Rathnam Krishnan, 54, who was laid off tapping after 28 years of working in the estate near Kuala Ketil, Kedah.

Former rubber tapper Rathnam Krishnan, 54, said he has no house or skills apart from being an estate worker

The workers received compensations of between RM3,000 and RM15,000 after being told of the estate closure in July last year, said Kedah National Union of Plantation Workers secretary I. Santhanadass.

Speaking at the picket, he said the company is now compelled to pay the federal government's minimum wage of RM900 begining Jan 1 if they become direct employees.

"As contract workers, they would only receive a daily wage of about RM25 as oil palm harvesters and general workers. This will not do as they used to earn a monthly salary of RM650 with EPF and Socso benefits.

"However, the company would rather employ foreign workers for a reduced rate than absorb the 25 Malaysians who had served them faithfully.

"According to the law, a company can only employ foreign workers if there are no locals available for work. Here, you have locals but the company is trying to ignore the minimum wage policy by offering contract work," Santhanadass said.

S. Vasanthi, 48, is one of the 25.

A single mother of four, including a disabled child, the tapper said she would not be able to survive elsewhere because the estate job was all she knew.

"I received a compensation of RM10,000 after serving the estate for 23 years. How long do you think the money will last?

"I have to pay for my children's education, food and medical needs. I wish the company understood our plight better," she added.

On Dec 6, The Malay Mail frontpaged the plight of the estate workers after PASB and the company recanted their direct employment offer.

On Dec 11, their frustation of receiving contractual employment was also highlighted by this newspaper.

Batu Uban state assemblyman S. Raveentharan who appeared at the picket said the former workers must be given priority and questioned what the Human Resources Minister had done to solve the problem in the past six months.

"Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam must compel the company to absorb the workers and pay them the minimum wage salary of RM900.

"The 1Malaysia idea of minimum wage is a failure if companies can circumvent it by employing foreign workers," Raveentharan said.

Both PASB and Neoh Choo Ee declined comment on the issue. - Malay Mail, 18/1/2013, Ex-tappers' picket over unkept promises

 

No place to go, say estate families

Denied right to work, workers asked to leave to make way for foreigners

Thursday, December 06, 2012 - 12:22

Location: 

SUNGAI PETANI

IN A DILEMMA: The estate workers handing over the memorandum listing their problems to Thanenthiran

TWENTY-FIVE families at Ladang Segintah here have been issued with notices to vacate their houses within two weeks.

They have urged the Human Resources Ministry to intervene to resolve their problem.

Otherwise, they say they would end up camping by the roadside as they have nowhere to go.

The affected families said they were shocked when the estate management issued the notice on Dec 1, which ordered them to vacate the estate quarters within 14 days.

They claimed the management had brought in more than 35 foreign workers to replace them and denied locals' right to continue to work in the estate.

The families have been jobless since July 31, after the estate management terminated their services. They were paid between RM5,000 and RM15,000 as compensation.

“We have no place to go now as the families have been staying in the estate for generations. We also have no other skills other than working in the estate," said M. Saravanan, 40.

“Who is going to employ us without any skills? Our future and our children’s future are at stake — we hope the government will help.”
He said an officer from the ministry had met them and the management more than a month ago to resolve the matter.

However, they have yet to be informed of the decision taken.

The management claimed the workers' services were not needed as the rubber processing plant is being closed down and the rubber trees will be chopped down.

Malaysia Makkal Sakti party president Datuk R.S. Thanenthiran and National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) Kedah chairman K. Ganesan and its secretary I. Santhanadas visited the workers yesterday.

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said every Malaysian gets a job, a house and a decent living in Malaysia, however, actions of some private firms deter the government in implementing its policies," said Thanenthiran.

He said he had obtained an appointment with PM’s personal secretary to hand over the memorandum to resolve the workers problem.

He also asked Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam to look into the matter.

Santhanadas said the management is trying to avoid the government’s rule to implement the RM900 basic salary for the estate workers.

“The management could only bring in foreign workers if no locals are available, but in this case the management had terminated the locals and engaged foreigners. We want the government to act upon the management,” he said.

Attempts to contact the management for comments failed.- Malay Mail, 6/12/2012, No place to go, say estate families