ETC systems causing loss of employment for workers
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) is disappointed with the
loss of jobs for workers at toll booths, by reason of automation or the
‘electronic toll collection’ (ETC) system. Many local workers,
especially women workers, have lost their jobs by this move by highway
toll operators. The Malaysian government failed to protect employment of
workers, when these companies choose to do away with human workers in
favour of automation.
Many local workers prefer to be with and
stay with their families in their hometowns, especially women workers,
and jobs as toll operators at nearby toll booth was a real option for
many of these workers, especially those living in smaller towns and
rural areas.
In the past, many local workers were willing to
migrate to larger towns for work but by reason of the low wages,
increased cost of living and poor quality of life, many workers have
moved back to their smaller hometowns and rural communities. Working at
tool booths was a real option for many of these workers, and the
government should have done the needful to ensure that these employment
opportunities were preserved.
It must also be noted despite the
existence of Smartcard and Touch ‘n Go lanes at toll booths, a large
number of people still used the cash payment lanes. This also was used
by taxis and other vehicles that were charged different rates compared
to normal users. For many workers still, employers still do insist on
receipts before reimbursement for travel is paid.
Pre-paid cards
only benefit one travel card companies, being Touch ‘n Go, and for many
low-waged workers whose regular income is also uncertain, by reason of
the unchecked increase of precarious employments in Malaysia and the
growing increase of loss of regular employments, prefer the ‘pay as you
use’ method.
This gives the worker real access and control to the
money in hand. He prefers not to paying in advance money that is
effectively stuck and irretrievable with ease in your Touch n Go cards.
This preference can also be seen by many in Malaysia who still avoid
regular auto-payment methods, preferring rather to make cash payments
when the bill arrives.Likewise, the preference to use pre-paid,
rather than being obligated to pay higher fixed rates for their
telephony needs - noting that many a time they upload small amounts, and
when money is tight.
There are only about 4.5 percent of the
workers in the private sector in Malaysia that are unionised. With the
growing rise of precarious employment practices, including the usage of
short-term contracts and the usage of workers of third parties at the
workplace, freedom of association is becoming a right that exist but
effectively difficult to claim and benefit for many workers in Malaysia.
No longer practical and just
The
existing restriction in law now only allow trade unions, especially
national and regional trade unions, for workers ‘within any similar
trades, occupations or industries’ is no longer practical or just - the
time has come to liberalise these strict requirement, enabling for the
formation and registration of trade unions of workers in the private
sector within particular geographical areas irrespective of what sector,
trade or industry that they work for.
This will also enable
workers with employers with smaller workforce to finally enjoy freedom
of association and be members of trade unions.
Currently, national
and regional trade unions’ attempts to organise and represent workers
in a particular workplace is also often defeated by employers who argue
that their employees do not fall within the scope of the said particular
union - the time may have come to liberalise this in favour of allowing
workers the full right of freedom of association. If workers choose a
particular union to represent them, that choice must be respected and
not be defeated by existing law.
The Malaysian government needs to
ensure that employment opportunities are not lost by reason of
automation or otherwise, especially where it concerns local workers,
more so in town and rural areas.
MTUC urges the government to reverse or
restrict this current move by highway operators to replace human
workers in favour of automation.
N GOPAL KISHNAM is secretary-general, Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).
Original Statement in MTUC Website
‘Electronic Toll Collection (ETC)’ Systems Causing Loss Of Employment For Many Workers – Government Should Protect Human Workers Welfare and Security
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) is disappointed with the
loss of jobs for workers at toll booths, by reason of automation or the
‘electronic toll collection (ETC)’ system. Many local workers,
especially women workers have lost their jobs by this move by highway
toll operators. The Malaysian government failed to protect employment of
workers, when these companies choose to do away with human workers in
favor of automation.
Many local workers prefer to be with and stay with their families in their hometowns, especially women workers, and jobs as toll operators at nearby toll booth was a real option for many of these workers especially those living in smaller towns and rural areas.
In the past, many local workers were willing to migrate to larger
towns for work but by reason of the low wages, increased cost of living
and poor quality of life, many workers have moved back to their smaller
hometowns and rural communities. Working at tool booths was a real
option for many of these workers, and the government should have done
the needful to ensure that these employment opportunities were
preserved.
It must also be noted despite the existence of Smartcard and Touch ‘n
Go lanes at toll booths, a large number of people still used the cash
payment lanes. This also was used by taxis and other vehicles that were
charged different rates compared to normal users. For many workers
still, employers still do insist on receipts before reimbursement for
travel is paid.
Pre-paid cards only benefit one travel card companies, being Touch ‘n
Go, and for many low waged workers whose regular income is also
uncertain, by reason of the unchecked increase of precarious employments
in Malaysia and the growing increase of loss of regular employments,
prefer the ‘pay as you use’ method. This gives the worker real access
and control to the money in hand. He prefers not to paying in advance
money that is effectively stuck and irretrievable with ease in your
Touch n Go cards. This preference can also be seen by many in Malaysia
who still avoid regular auto-payment methods, preferring rather to make
cash payments when the bill arrives. Likewise, the preference to use
pre-paid, rather than being obligated to pay higher fixed rates for
their telephony needs – noting that many a time they upload small
amounts, and when money is tight.
There are only about 4.5% of the workers in the private sector in
Malaysia that are unionized. With the growing rise of precarious
employment practices, including the usage of short-term contracts and
the usage of workers of third parties at the workplace, freedom of
association is becoming a right that exist but effectively difficult to
claim and benefit for many workers in Malaysia.
The existing restriction in law now only allow trade unions,
especially national and regional trade unions, for workers ‘within any
similar trades, occupations or industries’ is no more practical or just –
the time has come to liberalize these strict requirement, enabling for
the formation and registration of trade unions of workers in the private
sector within particular geographical areas irrespective of what
sector, trade or industry that they work for. This will also enable
workers with employers with smaller workforce to finally enjoy freedom
of association and be members of trade unions.
Currently, National and Regional Trade Unions attempts to organize
and represent workers in a particular workplace is also often defeated
by employers who arguing that their employees do not fall within the
scope of the said particular union – time may have come to liberalize
this in favour of allowing workers the full right of freedom of
association. If workers choose a particular union to represent them,
that choice must be respected and not be defeated by existing law.
Malaysian government need to ensure that employment opportunities are
not lost by reason of automation or otherwise, especially where it
concerns local workers, more so in town and rural areas. MTUC urges the
government to reverse or restrict this current move by highway operators
to replace human workers in favor of automation.
N. Gopal Kishnam
Secretary General
Malaysian Trades Union Congress
Tel: + 6 019 317 4717
Email: gopalkishnam@gmail.com
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