The only permissible justification for paying differently would be seniority (i.e. number of years of experience/service), additional skills,...
Paying someone a different wage for the same work - especially if it is race/ethnicity/nationality based is not at all acceptable...
Hence, the idea of having a different wage structure for domestic workers depending on their sending country is not acceptable...
The payment of workers different wages by reason only that they come from different countries, different races, different ethnicity, different religions, is just another 'method' that will help the 'divide and exploit' strategies of employers... It will definitely prevent worker solidarity..and unity - and hence divided workers will more likely not be able to unite to demand better rights, etc...
Remember also that in Malaysia, there is a specific section in the Employment Act 1955 that is demands equal treatment between local workers and foreign workers...
60L. Director General may inquire into complaint.
(1) The Director General may inquire into any complaint from a local employee that he is being discriminated against in relation to a foreign employee, or from a foreign employee that he is being discriminated against in relation to a local employee, by his employer in respect of the terms and conditions of his employment; and the Director General may issue to the employer such directives as may be necessary or expedient to resolve the matter.
(2) An employer who fails to comply with any directive of the Director General issued under subsection (1) commits an offence.
Therefore, different wage structure for foreign domestic workers from different source countries is definitely unacceptable...
A separate wage structure will be introduced for foreign domestic maids from the various source countries, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.He said the move would ensure that a standard wage was stipulated in the contracts between employers and employees.
He explained that under the new move, maids from Indonesia would have one standard wage structure while those from the Philippines would have another.
The ministry, he said, hoped to implement a comprehensive standard contract, which included the standard wage, by year-end.
Dr Subramaniam added that the standard contracts would be drawn based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Malaysia and all source countries.
“There will be contracts (to be signed by employers and employees) and wages will also be standardised.
“By the end of the year, everybody will have a standard agreement and wages (to abide by),” he told reporters at the opening of an Indian youth career development workshop here yesterday.
Late last month, the Philippines embassy said that Filipino maids must be paid the minimum US$400 (RM1,400) monthly salary. The rate had been decided by the country’s labour authorities.
Indonesian maids, meanwhile, were paid a much lower monthly wages.
On whether foreign maids would be sourced from China, Dr Subramaniam said the proposals could not be implemented due to opposition from various quarters.
“Wanita MCA had also informed me that it was not in favour of sourcing maids from China,” he added. - Star, 27/7/2009, Separate maid wage structure
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1 comment:
Charles,another stupid comment of yours. Why don't you suggest to the expatriate who work in Malaysia to get the same wages like us and see what they'd say.
Again I stressed, it's the supply demand market, if you are not wanted, even if you offer yourself for RM100 per month salary, yet still I will not employ you
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