By LEE YEN MUN
KUALA LUMPUR: Several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), are demanding that a minimum wage policy of between RM1,200 and RM1,500 be enforced immediately.
Describing the Government's proposal to table a National Minimum Wage Consultative Act in the current session of the Dewan Rakyat as "a step backwards", Parti Sosialis Malaysia treasurer A. Selvarajan said a minimum wage policy should be immediately implemented instead.
"It appears to us that the set-up of a consultative council, just like the Wage Council 1947, will have no power to enforce a minimum wage policy.
"Instead, the council will only carry out studies before making recommendations to the Government on what is the line for a minimum wage.
"This, to us, only prolongs the process of enforcing the minimum wage policy," Selvarajan said before handing over a memorandum on the issue to several Opposition MPs at the Parliament lobby here Wednesday.
He said considering the current inflation rates, the minimum wage for workers must be not less than RM1,500.
Earlier, Selvarajan and about 50 members representing several NGOs held placards and gathered at Jalan Parlimen before they were denied entry by policemen.
MTUC vice-president Mohd Roszali Majid said the congress supported any parties that championed a minimum wage for workers.
The other NGOs supporting the memorandum included Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia and Suaram.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said at the MTUC Workers Day celebration dinner that the Act would be tabled in Parliament this session.
"Once the Act is approved, we will set up the council and then the minimum wage can be implemented, I hope, by the end of this year," Najib was reported saying in his speech
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F6%2F15%2Fnation%2F20110615145941&sec=nation#.TfhjBHxW4Ko;facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment