JERIT dissappointed with MOHR response : Will Submit Memorandum to DEMAND MINIMUM WAGE ACT!

Thursday, 24 June 2010

For the past one decade, Gabungan Pekerja Kilang dan Kesatuan, Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (GPKK/JERIT), Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) NGOs as well as individuals have been petitioning for a minimum wage act . Memorandums, letters, surveys and studies have been submitted again and again Ministry of Human Resources urging the Government to enact Minimum Wage Act in Malaysia.

Yet, there is no implementation of national minimum wage in Malaysia. What we have is consistent statements with the same excuses by the every newly appointed Minister and Deputy Minister of Human Resources on why minimum wage could not be implemented in Malaysia.


Despite all the memorandums and surveys, the newly appointed Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr. S Subramaniam announced that his ministry had launched a blog to obtain publics views on governments’ proposal to implement minimum wage. And yesterday, the deputy Human Resources deputy minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan told Parliament that the government had only received a total of 77 responses from the public since March this year and the feedback is too small to implement the policy.

The answer by the Deputy Minister is totally unacceptable. What about the many memorandums submitted earlier , how about the 80,000 signed cards submitted by GPKK, JERIT in 2006 in the parliament demanding a minimum wage act. Aren’t all this feedback from the people supporting minimum wage act? Do you think a normal worker knows about the poll done in a blog opened by MOHR? Why is it that when the government wants to take away subsidies there is open day, exhibitions and various leaflets , whereas the poll about minimum wage is done hush hush .

Enough of this stories. The Ministry wants feedback well we will be giving them feedback. GPKK, JERIT will coming over to Ministry of Human Resource on 1/ 7/2010 to submit a memorandum on Minimum Wage based on feedback of workers in Johor, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan , Selangor, KL , Perak, Kedah and Penang. We hope the minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam and his deputy will be present to accept our memorandum and listen to the workers issues. Then we will be able to judge whether the minister is committed in implementing the minimum wage act or it is just drama to scam the people.

Statement released by
Gabungan Pekerja Kilang & Kesatuan
JERIT
Contact person : Parames. S : 0192612269