Malaysian Trades Union Congress

February-March 2014

PERUTUSAN SETiAUSAhA
GAJI MINIMUM- merujuk kepada laporan berita, "gaji minimum dan skim
gaji baru akan meningkatkan pendapatan isi rumah Malaysia (Malay Mail, 23/2/2014), benar-benar memberikan pandangan yang tidak tepat mengenai realiti pekerja di Malaysia. Ini jelas terhadap pekerja-pekerja dalam sektor swasta yang merupakan majoriti pekerja di Malaysia, iaitu kira-kira 70% dari guna tenaga ini berhadapan dengan keadaan tidak menentu apabila hak mereka dinafikan terhadap kerja tetap sehinggalah bersara. Ramai majikan menggunakan 'kontrak kerja jangka pendek', sebagai trend. Selepas tamat tempoh kontrak, ramai dikalangan pekerja ini ditinggalkan. Mereka sukar mendapatkan kerja baru dan sekaligus tersingkir dari hak pekerja dan kesejahteraan keluarga terjejas. Mereka terpaksa menanggung risiko dalam menangani keperluan terhadap keselamatan ekonomi dan sosial yang diperlukan bagi meneruskan kehidupan harian. Malah kenaikan gaji tahunan tidak wujud bagi pekerja kontrak seperti yang dinikmati oleh pekerja tetap. MTUC gembira dengan berita bahawa pekerja-pekerja sektor awam menerima '... kenaikan gaji tahunan tinggi sebanyak RM80 hingga RM320; dan semakkan gaji dari tujuh peratus hingga 13 peratus; dan kami berharap kerajaan Malaysia harus melakukan perkara yang sama untuk memastikan pekerja-pekerja sektor swasta juga dapat meningkatkan pendapatan isi rumah mereka pada kadar yang sama. MTUC berpendapat bahawa semakkan gaji minimum yang dijadualkan pertengahan tahun ini perlu mengambil kira kenaikan kos sara hidup beberapa tahun kebelakangan. Walaupun kedua-dua pasangan isi rumah menerima gaji minimum sebanyak RM900, selepas ditolak potongan berkanun, pendapatan isi rumah adalah sekitar RM1,600. Kerajaan Malaysia mengakui bahawa isi rumah yang berpendapatan kurang daripada RM3,000 perlu diberikan bantuan dan telah pun disalurkan dengan BRIM, maka adalah wajar sekiranya gaji minimum di Malaysia dinaikkan kepada RM1,500. MTUC menuntut supaya kerajaan memastikan pekerja di Malaysia mempunyai pekerjaan tetap sehingga mencapai umur persaraan, yang boleh menjamin kesejahteraan isi rumah mereka. Pekerjaan berunsurkan kontrak dan jangka pendek perlu dihapuskan sama sekali. Dalam keadaan hari ini, di mana setiap isi rumah dibebani dengan kewajipan pembayaran hutang bulanan maka setiap pekerja perlukan kerja tetap kerana kerja adalah satu keperluan untuk meneruskan kehidupan dan menjamin kesejahteraan isi rumah mereka.
N.GOPAL KISHNAM, Setiausaha Agung

Feb-Mac 2014 MTUC

Federal Court bars 13 from accessing Syabas documents

The Federal Court has dismissed an application for judicial review of an appellate courts decision to bar 13 consumers from accessing an audit report and the concession agreement of Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas). Describing this as retrogressive, Klang MP Charles Santiago said the ruling will limit the function of Selangors Freedom of Information Enactment. The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and 13 others had named Water, Energy and Communications minister and Syabas in the application, seeking access to the documents which are classified secret under the Official Secrets Act. I believe something is not right in the audit report. However, we cannot gain access to the two documents now, said Charles, one of 13 appellants deemed by the court to have failed the locus standi test in being part of the application. However, in its ruling delivered today by Federal Court judge Justice Hasan Lah, the MTUC will be allow to access documents as it had made a formal request in writing to the minister concerned. Looking at the whole legal and factual context of the application, especially the fact that this is a public interest litigation, the Federal Court is of the view that the MTUC has shown that it has a real and genuine interest in the two documents. Hence, MTUC was adversely affected by the ministers decision, said Justice Hasan. As for the second to the 14th appellants, the Federal Court agreed with the majority view of the appellate court that their dissatisfaction with the minister's decision in rejecting the MTUC's application did not make them persons who were adversely affected by the minister's decision. The Federal Court opines that, since the se2

cond to the 14th appellants did not make the application to the minister, they had not satisfied the test of threshold locus standi under Order 53 Rule 2(4) of the Rules of the High Court and as such, are not entitled to the reliefs sought. Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria led the five-member bench also comprising Chief Judge of Malaya Justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin, and Justices Hashim Yusof and Suriyadi Halim Omar of the Federal Court. The appellants had sought disclosure of the documents following Syabas intention to increase water tariff by 15 percent. On June 28, 2010, in a landmark ruling by then judicial commissioner Hadhariah Syed Ismail, the Kuala Lumpur High Court had decided that the minister's refusal to disclose the report and agreement had not been made in consideration of the public interest and those adversely affected by the proposed water tariff hike. On Feb 25, 2011, the Court of Appeal in a majority judgment overturned this decision and ruled that the water agreement - dated Dec 15, 2004 and involving the federal government, Selangor government and Syabas - is confidential. This led to the application for judicial review in the Federal Court. Malik Imtiaz Sarwar represented the 14 appellants, senior federal counsel Suzana Atan appeared for the minister.
Source: Malaysiakini, Feb 12, 2014

Feb - Mac 2014 MTUC

EPF has zero tolerance for fraud, depositors told

PETALING JAYA: The Employees Provident Fund has warned depositors of its zero-tolerance policy against fraud, saying it hauled 30 people to court last year for making fraudulent withdrawals. EPF general manager for public relations Nik Affendi Jaafar said 10 of the 30 errant depositors had been convicted while the remaining 20 cases were pending in court. Two of the depositors were convicted in the last three months of 2013 under Section 59 of the EPF Act 1991 for making fraudulent housing withdrawals. They were fined RM800 each. The fraudulent withdrawals involved the submission of falsified documents by members to facilitate the approval of withdrawals from their EPF account. We have a zero-tolerance policy against fraud and will not hesitate to take legal action against members involved in any instances of fraud, Nik Affendi said in a statement. Under the EPF Act 1991, those found guilty of committing fraudulent withdrawals from their retirement savings fund are liable to be jailed up to three years or fined RM10,000 or both. Convicted members who return the money withdrawn within six months from the conviction date will be allowed to apply for the same withdrawal two years after the amount is returned. Those who fail to do so will lose their right to make the same withdrawal, said Nik Affendi. He added that the EPF had a strict and comprehensive system to detect and identify members who had made fraudulent withdrawals, even after the savings had been successfully withdrawn. Each EPF withdrawal application and accompanying documents are thoroughly reviewed and checked with relevant parties to ensure its authenticity, he said. EPF depositors are advised to be cautious of syndicates claiming to offer assistance to withdraw their EPF savings for an exorbitant fee. Members should not seek assistance from a third party as the process of making EPF withdrawals is simple and straightforward, provided that all terms and conditions have been met, said Nik Affendi. Those wishing to make reports about fraudulent withdrawal attempts can contact the EPF anti-fraud hotline at 03-2616 2121 during working hours.
The Star online 23 Jan 2014

Four MAS flight attendants sacked for taking part in rally

PETALING JAYA: Four Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight attendants have been sacked for allegedly participating in a union rally in Putrajaya in November, says a union member. National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) president Ismail Nasaruddin, who was also sacked, said the four had received their termination letters in February. Nufam members took part in a peaceful rally at the Human Resources Ministry on Nov 27. It is understood that three of the sacked female attendants were on medical leave the day they came to the rally. Ismail, who was sacked two days after the rally, said the termination came after showcause letters were issued to 30 crew members, including union exco members, over their involvement in the rally. The rally had nothing to do with MAS. We rallied for our union matters, Ismail stressed. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Nufam said MAS had suspended the unions secretary-general Mohd Akram Osman, a chief steward with the airline for 25 years, over his involvement in the same rally and for issuing a union circular using the company email. The union, however, said sending union circular through the company email facility has been the practice for many years and was never questioned by the airline. It urged MAS to withdraw all show cause letters issued to the 30 crew members and to stop unionbusting activity against Nufam. We are still waiting for the ministry and the airline to respond to the matter, added Ismail.
The star Online , 28 Feb 2014

Feb-Mac 2014 MTUC

Last-minute rush to register foreign workers

SEPANG (Jan 21, 2014): The second phase of Ops Ber-

sepadu 6P went into full force on 20 Jan 2014 with thousands of foreigners checked for travel documents nationwide. Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 107 operations were carried out with 6,149 foreigners checked of whom 1,565 were illegals. He said among those held were 695 Indonesians, 255 Bangladeshis, 157 Myanmar nationals and the rest from Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Philippines, China, Nigeria and Thailand. He said those held were sent to detention centres and will not be allowed entry into Malaysia under any circumstances as they had abused their work permits, student and visit visas by PUTRAJAYA: The massive nationwide crackdown on overstaying. Ahmad Zahid said their particulars will be illegal foreign workers is expected to get off the ground recorded including the biometric data before deportation. today as the deadline closed on the legalisation of forBiometric data is obtained to ensure they do not return to Malaysia under another identity. The process eign workers under the 6P programme. will take about a week and we hope to deport them soon after. It will be cost-free for us as the deportation will be Many employers were seen making a frenzied dash to the 6P One-Stop Centre on the eve of the deadline de- borne by the respective countries of those detained, . spite a special three-month extension granted on Oct 21 He said 2,015 personnel from the Immigration Department, police, Rela, Civil Defence Department, National for employers to finalise the necessary paperwork. Registration Department and Malaysian Anti-Corruption The Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers and Illegal Commission were involved in the operation on the first day of its launch. Ahmad Zahid said employers who can Immigrants chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had decided on no further extensions prove that their workers were wrongfully held as a result as the Home Ministry vowed to move in and deport the of not producing valid travel documents should come forward and submit the relevant papers. There may be illegals starting today. cases of employers who held on to the work permits and passports of their foreign workers and these foreigners A Home Ministry official said although the special programme spanned three months, many employers did not may have been held when they could not produce the act early. Instead, the crowd only started to pile up over papers. In such cases, the employers should come up with the documents and hand it over to us. the last two weeks, . The special three-month programme was mainly to accommodate employers who claimed to have been cheated by employment agents to This operation will go on indefinitely and we hope to nab as many illegals as we can. Often in the first week, these register their illegal workers. illegals will go into hiding and we may not see many held. We are also aware that a huge number had fled the The latest operation to detain and deport illegal immigrants is the second of such crackdown after the first on country prior to the operation, he said. He also warned Sept 1 last year. Indonesians were the highest number that under the Immigration Act and Anti-Human Traffickof those detained, followed by Myanmar nationals, Bang ing Act, it was an offence to employ and harbour illegal ladeshis and Nepalese. The plantation, construction and workers. Ops Bersepadu 6P is targeted at rounding up an estimated 400,000 illegal immigrants believed to be in manufacturing sectors were said to be the worst hit in the operation as some 17,180 foreigners and 223 em the country. ployers were detained overall. Star online January 21, 2014
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Feb-Mac 2014 MTUC

ISSUES CONCERN

Feb-Mac 2014 MTUC

AKTIVITI KESATUAN PROTON KEPADA AHLI-AHLI

Seminar kesatuan dan kesedaran kepada ahli-ahli

Beberapa orang Pekerja Proton telah menjalanai latihan yang dianjurkan oleh Pihak Nasional Diabetes Institute (Nadi) di Ilham Resort pada Januari 2014. Latihan yang diberi adalah berkaitan Kaedah Pemeriksaan untuk Mengawal dan Mencegah dari Diabetes. Semua Peserta dari Proton telah lulus dengan cemerlang.

Futsal bersama ahli-ahli

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Feb-Mac 2014 MTUC

Kursus dan Seminar

MTUC/SC Kursus Asas Kepimpinan & Skill Menambah keahlian dan penubuhan kesatuan Sekerja telah berlangsung selama tiga hari dari 18-20 Feb 2014 dengan lancar. Seramai 29 peserta telah mengambil bahagian dari pelbagai sektor dan seramai tujuh peserta wanita menyertainya. Antara topik yang dibincangkan ialah Kepimpinan dalam Era Globalisasi, halatuju Pergerakan Kesatuan sekerja dan cabaran, pengurusan dan pentadbiran kesatuan, tanggungjawab pegawai kesatuan, peranan wanita dan belia, kemahiran menambah keahlian, penubuhan, kommunikasi berkesan, tatacara dan sebagainya.

PSIMNCC Workshop on Leadership for Young Workers 24-25 Feb 2014

Kesatuan PSI Malaysia telah menganjurkan seminar dua hari untuk pemimpin muda dan belia di Petaling Jaya Selangor. Seramai 30 peserta dengan 14 wanita telah menyertai seminar ini. Matlamat utama ialah untuk melengkapkan Pemimpin muda menghadapi cabaran berkesatuan dan pendedahan kepada kaedah mengatasinya. Seminar ini mem beri fokus utama kepada elemen cabaran yang bakal dihadapi oleh pemimpin muda dalam pergerakan kesatuan sekerja; mengenalpasti hak persamaan pekerja berlainan jantina; mengenalpasti dan menyediakan diri dengan kerenah majikan di tempat kerja dan membincangkan pengalaman pergerakan kesatuan sekerja. Sumber penceramah ialah Sdra. Ikmal Raj, Sdra Roszely, Sdra. K.Vinothan, Sdri. Kang Bee Leng, Sdri. Rajeswari dan Sdra. Ponniah.
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Feb-Mac 2014 MTUC

INFORMASI
MTUC PUSAT MTUC Sabah

International Womens Day 2014 MTUC

Kursus dan seminar MTUC

Date 21-22 March 2014 Venue: NUBE Training ctr Time : 2pm-12pm Registration : RM100

30 March Persidangan Perwakilan Khas MTUCTWU Petaling Jaya. 22-24 April Kursus Pentadbiran dan Pengurusan Kewangan Kesatuan Sekerja. 20-22 Mei Kursus Pembangunan Kepimpinan Kesatuan Sekerja Peringkat Belia dan Beliawanis (had umur 40 tahun). 17-19 Jun Kursus Perhubungan Perusahaan & Perjanjian Bersama

Issues on focus: Women representation in Decision making in Malaysia. How to change the general perception towards Women. How to change small timer business women into entrepreneurs. How to change the mens mind set in accepting women to be unionist.
Contact person: Sdri Nasrifah 012 2503273

Wisma MTUC 10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-80242953 Fax:03-80243225 website : www.mtuc.org.my; email:mtucgeneral @gmail.com / disediakan oleh: Sdri.R.Rajeswari, Setiausaha Penyelidikan. disemak: Sdra. N. Gopal Kishnam Setiausaha Agung MTUC 8