June 15, 2011
Najib speaks during a dinner with the MTUC, June 14, 2011. — Picture by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) vice-president Mohd Roszeli Majid has claimed that “nothing” was achieved in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s dinner with the trade union last night.
During last night’s dinner, the prime minister had promised that the government aims to implement a minimum wage by the end of 2011 once Parliament passes the National Wage Consultation Council Bill in the current June sitting.
Najib said that Cabinet was waiting for the Ministry of Human Resources to present the Bill before tabling it in Parliament.
“We want the minimum wage to be implemented immediately, not just rhetoric...no more excuses,” Mohd Roszeli said today.
“There were many people who attended yesterday’s dinner, hoping that the government would do something about minimum wage, but we were sorely disappointed,”
“While we were eating last night, there were many other workers out there still starving,” Roszeli added.
Earlier today, the MTUC leader joined 100 protesters representing various workers organisations gathered outside Parliament to oppose the tabling of the National Wage Consultation Council Bill.
Workers rights group, Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), together with 11 other non-governmental organisation, led the demonstration that lasted for 30 minutes.
The groups want an enactment of a minimum wage instead of the National Consultation Council Act and sought for a basic worker’s salary to be at RM1,500.
The new Bill is to replace the Salary Determination Council Act 1947, and is expected to be tabled, debated and passed at this Parliament sitting.
Jerit co-ordinator M. Sivaranjani said the consultative council would not solve worker’s woes.
“The wage council has got neither the fangs nor the powers to coerce the employers to abide by their orders, nor to take any action against employers who are stubborn and refuse to pay accordingly,” she said.
The groups have sent a memorandum stating their demands to the office of the prime minister.
The Najib administration has targeted the implementation of a minimum wage policy for this year, but has faced resistance from employers who worry it will hamper business.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/mtuc-vp-bemoans-fruitless-najib-dinner-visit/
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