KUCHING: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak has urged the government to stop “currying favour” with capitalists under the shadow economy to ensure that the reformation of local labour laws is not driven by malice.
Its chairman Mohamad Ibrahim Hamid said the current minimum wage does not make any difference for ordinary workers as Bank Negara has reported that wage increase always fall behind productivity growth.
“It makes no sense to impose low minimum wage when the cost of living is spurring between 15 and 25 per cent – much higher compared to Malaya’s.
“There is no reason for timber tycoons and plantation owners in Sarawak to claim that they cannot afford minimum wage, and yet retail shops and small business owners in the north of Malaya can afford to pay the same rate,” he said at Sarawak MTUC Solidarity Labour Dinner 2019 yesterday.
He said trade unions could help workers to bargain for fair wages.
“The current laws make it easier for employers to sack workers and stifle trade unions. Thus, collective bargaining serves more than collective begging,” he said.
Stating his support for the federal government’s proposal to adopt the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention, Ibrahim pointed out the effort is vital to amending the labour laws that provide greater protection for workers and trade unions.
“MTUC Sarawak is pleased to support the government’s proposal to adopt the convention on trade union registration, recognition and representation.
“To have a powerful lobby in moving ahead with labour law reforms we must strengthen our trade union movement in line with international standards.
“We have seen evidence from countries where unions are strong, effective, representative and independent that real wages have increased,” he stressed.
Illustrating Cambodia’s case, Ibrahim further slammed it as the consequence when state government-linked companies continue to deny its trade union representation.
“Due to the need to push for economic and investment growth, industry opted in more than three million foreign workers in order to create low-paying jobs.
“Up to 80 per cent of foreign workers are working in our state’s timber plantations while thousands of Sarawakians are working in Singapore, Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
“Worst, some Sarawakians are so desperate that they get conned into thinking that Cambodia would offer them better opportunities than Sarawak,” he lamented.
To push greater protection for ordinary workers, Ibrahim said employers have to stop their fear mongering.
“They must realise their incessant whining has led us to this untenable situation,” he reminded.
Ibrahim also made his call to the members of trade unions to embrace the international labour standards and practices.
“What is more important is when all quarters profit and productivity is at the highest, thus helping industries to continue flourishing,” he said.
