Did Guan Eng say that minimum wages under PR would only be for Malaysians not migrant workers? Please do clarify

Totally disappointing (if correctly reported by Malaysian Insider) for a Pakatan Rakyat leader to say that migrant workers may not be entitled to minimum wages under PR. The intention may be to woo voters to vote for PR but it is very wrong because it is unjust. All workers are entitled to equal pay and equal rights as workers, and that includes migrant workers. 

Remember that even when the current BN government recently tried to impose the obligation to pay levy on migrant workers removing that obligation from employers of migrants. Malaysians, including workers and the MTUC, rightfully protested this unjust move - 82 Groups - MINIMUM WAGES FOR ALL WORKERS, INCLUDING MIGRANT WORKERS - No to Wage Deduction to recover Levy Payable By Employers -

The Malaysian Insider report was in Malay, so a rough translation of relevant paragraphs in the said news report is included in the report attached below.

I hope that the worker leaders in Pakatan Rakyat, and Pakatan Rakyat immediately come and clarify their position to ensure all Malaysians and others that if and when they do rule, they will not practice discrimination against migrant workers...

I truly hope that it was a case of mis-reporting, and we will soon get some clarification from Guan Eng and Pakatan Rakyat. What Malaysians want is justice and human rights in Malaysia - certainly no discrimination against workers based on their nationality..

  

Gaji minimum PR untuk rakyat Malaysia, tidak libat warga asing, kata Guan Eng

[PR's minimum wage for Malaysian citizens, not involve migrant workers, says Guan Eng]

Oleh Mohd Farhan Darwis
March 08, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Mac — Gaji minimum RM1,100 yang akan dilaksanakan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) hanya akan melibatkan rakyat Malaysia, tanpa mengambil kitra pekerja asing, kata Setiausaha Agung DAP Lim Guan Eng.

[ Rough English Translation:- The minimum wage of RM1,100 that will be implemented by the Pakatan Rakyat(PR) government will only involve Malaysian citizens, without tahing into account migrant workers, said the Secretary General of DAP Lim Guan Eng. ]

Guan Eng (gambar) berkata, tidak seperti dasar gaji minimum RM900 kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN), cadangan PR itu lebih mengutamakan rakyat kerana dasar gaji minimum BN itu turut merangkumi pekerja asing di negara ini.

[ Rough English Translation:- Guan Eng(picture) said, that unlike the RM900 minimum wage policy of the Barisan Nasional(BN), PR's proposal will prioritize citizens as the BN minimum wage policy also includes migrant workers in this country.]

“Hanya BN mahu membantu pekerja asing ... agar pekerja asing dapat menikmati tahap gaji yang sama dengan pekerja Malaysia,” kata Guan Eng ketika berucap dalam Majlis Menandatangani Perjanjian Kolektif dengan syarikat pengurusan air Pulau Pinang, di Hotel Traders di sana.

[ Rough English Translation:- "Only BN wants to help migrant workers...so that migrant workers enjoy wage rates same as Malaysian workers. " said Guan Eng whilst speaking at Collective Agreement Signing ceremony with the Pulau Pinang Water Management company, at Hotel Traders there.]

“Mungkin BN mahu jaga pekerja asing kerana mengharapkan orang asing akan menyokong mereka ... Itulah sebabnya gaji minima yang dicadangkan oleh PR bertindak adil kepada pekerja Malaysia bukan seperti BN yang lebih mementingkan pekerja asing,” katanya dalam ucapan berkenaan yang diperolehi The Malaysian Insider.

 [Rough English Translation:- "Maybe BN wants to protect migrant workers because they hope that foreigners will support them...That is why the minimum wage proposed by PR will act justly for Malaysian workers not like the BN that places more importance on migrant workers, " he said in his speech that was obtained by The Malaysian Insider.]

Pelaksanaan gaji minimum dijangka akan memanfaatkan tiga juta pekerja secara langsung.

[Rough English Translation:- The implementation of the minimum wage will directly benefit 3 million workers]

 

Kementerian Sumber Manusia sebelum ini berkata pelaksanaan gaji minimum akan berkuatkuasa yang akan berkuatkuasa mulai 1 Januari 2013.

Daripada jumlah itu hanya 600 dari 4,200 majikan dibenarkan menangguhkan pelaksanaan gaji minimum tersebut.

Pengumuman gaji minimum bagi sektor swasta dibuat Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak pada 30 April dan diwartakan pada 16 Julai lepas.

Perintah gaji minimum 2012 pula berkuat kuasa pada 1 Januari 2013 dan kadarnya akan dikaji semula setiap dua tahun.

Keputusan untuk menguatkuasakan pelaksanaan gaji minimum itu adalah mandatori dan kerajaan menetapkan gaji minimum pekerja swasta ialah RM900 di Semenanjung dan RM800 di Sabah, Sarawak dan Labuan. - Malaysian Insider, 8/3/2013, Gaji minimum PR untuk rakyat Malaysia, tidak libat warga asing, kata Guan Eng