Workers will be gathering come 1st May to demonstrate their solidarity as workers in their struggle for better worker and trade union rights...and MTUC expects 20,000 in an event that will also see for the first time former PM Dr Mahathir...
Interestingly, the Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC) MAY DAY Rally will now be Wisma MTUC USJ 9 - Why? This certainly is not a venue that is easily accessible by public transport. Previous rallies have been held in the field in front of Amcorp Mall, just nearby the Taman Jaya LRT station.
Interestingly, the Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC) MAY DAY Rally will now be Wisma MTUC USJ 9 - Why? This certainly is not a venue that is easily accessible by public transport. Previous rallies have been held in the field in front of Amcorp Mall, just nearby the Taman Jaya LRT station.
Surely, the Menteri Besar of Selangor could have provided a better venue, considering that MTUC is expecting over 20,000 to turn up..
Earlier, it was also reported that former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir will also be turning up...for the promotion of worker and trade union rights...
Venue
- 10-5 Jalan 9/5T, Subang Jaya, Selangor 47620 Malaysia
Dr M to hit the streets again, this time for workers' rights
Come
May 1, he and Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali will attend the May Day
rally organised by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).
Since
launching his campaign against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak,
Mahathir has become a regular feature at street protests and public
rallies, which the nonagenarian had little tolerance for during his
tenure as prime minister.
In
announcing Mahathir’s participation, MTUC acting president Abdullah
Sani Abdul Hamid told reporters that the rally would demand better
treatment for workers nationwide, irrespective of whether they are
foreign or local.
"Our demands include the setting of the monthly
minimum wage to RM1,200, maintaining the EPF (Employees Provident Fund)
withdrawal age at 55 and further study on the impact of the goods and
services tax (GST) on the rakyat," he said.
“We hope to get an attendance of between 10,000 and 20,000 people at the rally.
“We
must stop the oppression of workers by certain employers and
authorities. We need to defend the employees’ rights so they can be
treated fairly and with respect.
“The employees in question include all of you too,” he added, referring to the journalists present.
Quizzed
further on Mahathir’s presence, MTUC secretary-general N Gopal Kishnam
said the union hopes he would share his contributions towards workers in
the country during his tenure as prime minister.
In addition to the minimum wage, EPF and GST issues, MTUC also urged the government to:
- Respect the federal constitution by protecting the rights of workers and guaranteeing the social safety of workers of all nationalities;
- Recognise and implement the ILO Convention 87, which comprises the right for employees to form associations and more;
- Make it compulsory for employers from the private sector to provide a cost-of-living adjustment allowance of RM300 to every employee;
- To reconsider and analyse the implementation of Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), so that its implementation will not burden the rakyat, especially in the form of increasing medical costs;
- To fully implement the ILO Convention 98 so that workers can reclaim the right to hold discussions with officials in the public sector; and
- To study and amend the law in regard to employees, so that the workers and unions’ rights are truly protected. - Malaysiakini, 22/4/2016
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