Workers are asking Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and the BN government for help - but will the PM and the BN government bother? Will they even go and meet the workers?
What about the 'Opposition' - PAS, PKR, DAP,...? Are workers plight a matter of concern?
Worker rights have been eroding - Malaysian government is not even bothered in protecting the right to regular employment until retirement anymore? Malaysian government is in fact PROMOTING precarious employment practices - they started the whole 'contractor for labour system' - they issued permits/licences...to enable the creation of the 'labour outsourcing' ...it all started around 2005-2006
Najib and BN government's approach is providing 'hand-outs' like BR1M - but they are not going to enact laws that makes it a RIGHT for Malaysians to receive financial assistance ...so BR1M, it is arbitrary ...you may get this year...but maybe nothing next year. If it enacted as law, it becomes a RIGHT and all qualified will get it...
What workers need is 'employment security'....financial stability for the worker and their families..
Government is expected to anticipate factory closures and even retrenchments - and, so there must be planning as how to overcome such problems?
In the case of retrenchment in Megasteel, was it government policy that is causing this lay-off?
“We hope the prime minister will help us by taking action against the rising imports of foreign hot rolled coils, which are imported at a cheaper price compared to local productions.
“When this (rising cheap foreign import) problem is solved, Megasteel can increase its revenues once more, and thus, help the workers in regaining full employment,” Samsudin said.
Well, Najib and BN's GST policy has seen the closing down of a lot of local businesses - we see so many shops/business that have closed down...
When TPPA comes into being, again a lot of local businesses will be affected - and workers will lose jobs..
Remember, the first priority of government should be the well-being of its people - workers, farmers, etc > YES, and the focus must be the poor...
'Help us, Najib' placards flashed at steel workers’ picket
It was supposed to be
a typical workday at Megasteel Sdn Bhd in Banting – the warm morning
breeze intermingled with the regular clanking of hot rolled coils being
produced from its steel mill.
The rhythm, however, was interrupted when a group of laid-off employees appeared and picketed in front of Megasteel’s gleaming office today.
The picketers carried placards with messages such as “We don’t want to be laid off”, “We want compensation”, “Megasteel is being cruel” and even a “Please help us, Prime Minister Najib”.
Also present at the scene was Metal Industry Employees’ Union (MIEU) president Samsudin Usop, whose organisation has represented 10,000 workers in metal products manufacturing factories since 1963 (according to its Facebook page).
“We (the picketers) are here to voice our displeasure at Megasteel’s actions of having laid off about 600 employees since January this year,” claimed Samsudin.
“With their average salaries suffering a 50 percent reduction from RM1,800 monthly to RM900 per month, how will these workers manage their life commitments like paying for their car or motorcycle loans, home rents, and children’s education expenses?”
“They (Megasteel Sdn Bhd) have also not informed us on how long this layoff period will last,” he added.
“So, we tried to schedule a meeting with Megasteel executives today, but unfortunately, the discussion did not take place as they (Megasteel) requested that only two of us (among the affected employees and picketers) can be present at the meeting,” he claimed, adding that the picket’s committee comprises six members.
When queried about the “Please help us, Prime Minister Najib” placard, Samsudin clarified that the picketers expressed hope that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak can aid the laid-off workers in returning to full employment.
“We hope the prime minister will help us by taking action against the rising imports of foreign hot rolled coils, which are imported at a cheaper price compared to local productions.
“When this (rising cheap foreign import) problem is solved, Megasteel can increase its revenues once more, and thus, help the workers in regaining full employment,” Samsudin said.
Megasteel’s side of the story
Malaysiakini has also contacted the Lion Corp subsidiary company, Megasteel Sdn Bhd, for its side of the saga.
Vasu Palanisamy, the senior manager group industrial relations and employee relations (IRER), claimed that because of Megasteel’s affected revenues, it implemented a layoff exercise among its employees from January 2016 onwards.
“A total of 486 employees had been laid off since January 2016,” Vasu claimed.
“For the moment, it’s unnecessary for our affected employees to report to work. They are on a work standby list, where we will contact them when their skills are required at work.
“Despite temporarily receiving a 50 percent cut in salary during their layoff period, these workers still enjoy employment perks like their medical treatments, which are paid for by Megasteel,” Vasu added.
Asked if any action will be taken against the picketers, Vasu said “No”.
“Nobody (involved in the picketing) will be reprimanded, for it was a peaceful gathering and we also understand their concerns with coping with the current cost of living.
“We still want to maintain a good working relationship with the (MIEU) union. (MIEU) is cooperative in the sense that we can still hold discussions to resolve this matter,” added Vasu.
Hope for the future
Vasu also said the affected employees will be at the top of Megasteel’s full-employment hiring list – with first-choice employment opportunities – when the company’s revenues and production rates recover.
“In addition, the Lion Corp training arm, CEDR (Corporate Consulting Sdn Bhd), has also been conducting free training sessions for the affected employees, with each session lasting a few weeks.
“The CEDR trainers help our employees by providing motivational talks, improving their CVs, prep them for interviews and invite potential employers who are seeking to hire new employees,” Vasu added.
So, what’s next for Megasteel and its disenchanted employees?
“We will schedule a meeting with the MIEU and picketers in the next few days,” Vasu said. - Malaysiakini, 11/4/2016
The rhythm, however, was interrupted when a group of laid-off employees appeared and picketed in front of Megasteel’s gleaming office today.
The picketers carried placards with messages such as “We don’t want to be laid off”, “We want compensation”, “Megasteel is being cruel” and even a “Please help us, Prime Minister Najib”.
Also present at the scene was Metal Industry Employees’ Union (MIEU) president Samsudin Usop, whose organisation has represented 10,000 workers in metal products manufacturing factories since 1963 (according to its Facebook page).
“We (the picketers) are here to voice our displeasure at Megasteel’s actions of having laid off about 600 employees since January this year,” claimed Samsudin.
“With their average salaries suffering a 50 percent reduction from RM1,800 monthly to RM900 per month, how will these workers manage their life commitments like paying for their car or motorcycle loans, home rents, and children’s education expenses?”
“They (Megasteel Sdn Bhd) have also not informed us on how long this layoff period will last,” he added.
“So, we tried to schedule a meeting with Megasteel executives today, but unfortunately, the discussion did not take place as they (Megasteel) requested that only two of us (among the affected employees and picketers) can be present at the meeting,” he claimed, adding that the picket’s committee comprises six members.
When queried about the “Please help us, Prime Minister Najib” placard, Samsudin clarified that the picketers expressed hope that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak can aid the laid-off workers in returning to full employment.
“We hope the prime minister will help us by taking action against the rising imports of foreign hot rolled coils, which are imported at a cheaper price compared to local productions.
“When this (rising cheap foreign import) problem is solved, Megasteel can increase its revenues once more, and thus, help the workers in regaining full employment,” Samsudin said.
Megasteel’s side of the story
Malaysiakini has also contacted the Lion Corp subsidiary company, Megasteel Sdn Bhd, for its side of the saga.
Vasu Palanisamy, the senior manager group industrial relations and employee relations (IRER), claimed that because of Megasteel’s affected revenues, it implemented a layoff exercise among its employees from January 2016 onwards.
“A total of 486 employees had been laid off since January 2016,” Vasu claimed.
“For the moment, it’s unnecessary for our affected employees to report to work. They are on a work standby list, where we will contact them when their skills are required at work.
“Despite temporarily receiving a 50 percent cut in salary during their layoff period, these workers still enjoy employment perks like their medical treatments, which are paid for by Megasteel,” Vasu added.
Asked if any action will be taken against the picketers, Vasu said “No”.
“Nobody (involved in the picketing) will be reprimanded, for it was a peaceful gathering and we also understand their concerns with coping with the current cost of living.
“We still want to maintain a good working relationship with the (MIEU) union. (MIEU) is cooperative in the sense that we can still hold discussions to resolve this matter,” added Vasu.
Hope for the future
Vasu also said the affected employees will be at the top of Megasteel’s full-employment hiring list – with first-choice employment opportunities – when the company’s revenues and production rates recover.
“In addition, the Lion Corp training arm, CEDR (Corporate Consulting Sdn Bhd), has also been conducting free training sessions for the affected employees, with each session lasting a few weeks.
“The CEDR trainers help our employees by providing motivational talks, improving their CVs, prep them for interviews and invite potential employers who are seeking to hire new employees,” Vasu added.
So, what’s next for Megasteel and its disenchanted employees?
“We will schedule a meeting with the MIEU and picketers in the next few days,” Vasu said. - Malaysiakini, 11/4/2016
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