ON HUMAN RIGHTS, JUSTICE AND PEACE ISSUES, LABOUR RIGHTS, MIGRANT RIGHTS, FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY, TOWARDS AN END OF TORTURE, POLICE ABUSES, DISCRIMINATION...
Is the Malaysian Media failing their duties to the people, workers in Malaysia. It was shocking that when almost 2,000 glove factory workers went on strike for 3 days, Malaysians did not see reporting in most media.
An internet search revealed that only Malaysiakini seem to have reported that strike, but it was when the workers ended their strike...
It is a sad day, when Malaysian Media do not report on worker issues including alleged violation of rights. This was news... A strike or a picket or workers fighting for rights (or highlighting alleged violations of rights) is IMPORTANT NEWS which media should report... because such issues is a concern for all Malaysians, because we are workers, our children are workers...or will be workers...and we are most concern not just about 'kleptocracy' but also about violation of ordinary peoples' rights and issues.
Too much reporting about what PM and Ministers are saying, and party in-fighting, criticisms by Opposition politicians...but the people are forgotten.
MEDIA, when reporting the issues, can report both sides of the story...and also investigate allegations and all this really will push for a speedier resolution of any injustice or human rights violation. Worker demands is also about 'promotion' of rights ...
MEDIA, should be a Human Rights Defender - and their reporting highlight alleged wrongdoings - which will also push the relevant authorities to speedily act against perpetrators..
There really is no need for a PICKET or even a STRIKE - if Media becomes aware of some alleged wrongdoings, their duty is to highlight. It is sad, when it is FOREIGN MEDIA that highlights and not Local Media.
New Straits Times did a great job when they HIGHLIGHTED ...and also investigated...the Bauxite Mining issue in Pahang, and its impact to health and environment. If not for that, nothing may have been done for a long time...SPEEDY REPORTING IS IMPORTANT.
MEDIA AND JOURNALIST MUST ALSO UPHOLD THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR...or is Malaysian media and journalist just too scared...
The strike happened in Sepang - Where was Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin? Did he not know about worker rights violations happening in his constituency? Did he turn up or investigate or do anything? Many of these workers may not have been able to VOTE but still a Member of Parliament (and ADUNs) really is responsible for all that happens in their constituency? No news about any statement/comment from the MP or ADUN? Why...
2,000 workers on 'strike'. In a strike, workers do not work(or get paid for the days they go on strike) - it is a right in Malaysian laws that allows workers to strike, picket
Sadly Malaysian Unions and workers simply do not use 'strike' as a means to pressure employers to respond positively...The last strike was the Malaysian Airline Strike in 1978-79 - government responded by arresting and detention, some even were detained under the ISA. The then Airlines Employees Union, which was not an in-house union, was de registered. Subsequently, the Malaysian Airlines only had in-house trade unions until recently one national union was registered - NUFAM.
New government Pakatan Harapan - Will it restore worker and trade union rights? Or will it continue with the old UMNO-BN policy of keeping workers and/or their unions weak and ineffective ...
Did the Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC) come out in support of these striking workers? Did they even issue any statement. MTUC is the recognized representative of all workers in Malaysia, not just in Malaysia but they are also recognized at such for Malaysia at the International Labour Organsitation. Did the other trade unions respond - even if condemning the non-payment of wages, and asking it be paid? Sadly, I did not see - this lack of solidarity further adds to the perception that Malaysian trade unions are weak, and do not even have the full support of its own worker union members...
END EFFECT - With the failings of MEDIA, MPs/ADUNs, Trade Unions - worker rights would easily be violated by bad employers ...The Ministry also fails to inspect and do needful to ensure that worker rights are respected..
2,000 workers would not have to STRIKE only if the relevant Ministry had noticed this 'non-payment' of wages and acted fast.
Malaysian Media was shamed when a UK newspaper highlighted worker violations in Malaysia? What will Malaysian media and journalist do?
Blame on previous UMNO-BN practices, now that we have a new alternative government, is no longer an excuse for Malaysian Media failing to highlight problems of workers/people, failure to report on strikes/pickets or worker actions, etc...
Now, new government and MEDIA need to be more brave ...now, many media seems to just report what politicians say...but little about the issues of the people...What about investigative journalism?
Almost 2,000 Nepali glove factory workers end 3-day strike
Nearly 2,000 Nepali workers at a glove
manufacturing factory in Sepang have ended their three-day strike after
the management promised to settle their outstanding salaries.
Sources told Malaysiakini that
Labour Department officials were onsite at the WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd
factory for an inspection earlier today, as well as to meet with the
striking workers and the management.
"The Labour Department confirmed that the workers were not paid their wages for the last three months.
"They
also found that the workers were living in terrible conditions," said
the source, a labour activist in communication with a Nepali counterpart
who forwarded the matter to authorities from the country.
"The company will pay all the wages within this week," said the source.
'Exploitative conditions'
Last December, The Guardianrevealed that
the British National Health Service was using medical gloves made in
Malaysian factories where migrant workers are allegedly subjected to
forced labour, forced overtime, debt bondage, withheld wages and
passport confiscation.
The report stated that WRP and another
major glove manufacturer were found to have allegedly subjected
thousands of migrant workers from Nepal and Bangladesh to exploitative
working conditions.
Three of 19 workers interviewed by The Guardian were from WRP. They related stories of excessive overtime, confiscation of passports and illegal withholding of their salaries.
According
to the newspaper, a potential client who visited the WRP factory said
he was shocked by what he had witnessed, and claimed the overall working
conditions were some of "the worst he had ever seen".
Among
others, it was claimed that factory temperatures were up to 70°C for
those working near the ovens, and that more than 3,000 workers were
housed in a hostel built for 1,800.
In a statement to The Guardian,
WRP chief executive Lee Son Hong dismissed the allegations of forced
labour as "baseless" and insisted that the company had never withheld or
delayed payments for its employees.
When contacted, Sepang police chief Abdul Aziz Ali confirmed
that the workers had been picketing outside the factory for the last
three days.
"Yes, they held a strike. But the issue has been settled," he told Malaysiakini.
However, Abdul Aziz said, no statement was recorded from the employer, as the incident involved no criminal elements.
"This is not a criminal case. It is (a dispute) between the workers and their employers.
"When their employer did not pay them for three months, they were angry and held a strike.
"Once the issue of salary was resolved, the strike ended," Abdul Aziz added.
Looking at the Bernama Report, it seems to give the impression that migrant workers cannot lodge complaints at the Labour Department, which is FALSE, - hence the reason why employers 'violate their rights'.
“In this particular WRP case, the company paid the local workers because
they can go to the Labour Department to lodge a report if they were not
paid, but these foreign workers, they can’t go and this is not fair,”
he[Human Resources Minister M. Kula Segaran] said.
Knowing Kula, I would say that this is most likely a case of 'bad reporting' - dangerous because it can give migrant workers the wrong understanding that they cannot lodge claims at the Labour Department..
All workers, local or migrant, can lodge complains and make claims at the Labour Departments..
But are some bad employers preventing them the opportunity to do so by making sure that they are working always when the Labour Department is open...and, as such, removing the opportunity to go make a complaint and/or claim at the Labour Department?
The problem with workers lodging complaints against employers is the RISKS of retaliation. A Malaysian worker could be terminated...or could suffer discrimination when it comes to future promotions/pay rises/etc..
For migrant, it is worse because after termination, the employer may also cause the worker to lose his/her work visa making it impossible for the said migrant worker to continue lie (and work) in Malaysia - so even when the complaint come up for hearing at the Labour Department, that complainant migrant worker may already be considered 'illegal' - the risk of being arrested if and when he/she turns up at the meeting/hearing at the Labour Department/Industrial Relations Department.
The problem is made worse by GOVERNMENT POLICY that a migrant worker can only work for 1 Employer - so, the option of changing employers is not there.
Another BAD Government Policy is that the Immigration Department/Police arrest, detain and deport - They do not bother even to check if there is any outstanding complaint/claim by the migrant worker, whether already filed at the Labour Department or not.
* A suggestion has been made that there be no DEPORTATION until the Ministry of Human Resources meets the worker, investigate and issue a Certificate Confirming that there are no outstanding claims/complaints against the Employer - and that the employer owes nothing to the worker.
* Likewise, maybe there should be a certificate from the Home Ministry certifying that there are no cases outstanding that requires the attendance/presence of the said migrant worker as victim or witness. [Without this, corrupt police, immigration officers and other public officials gets off scot free]
Hence, these bad policies and practices of the past UMNO-BN government makes the migrant worker in Malaysia to most easy victim of rights violation.
Can a Migrant Worker vary his work visa? Yes, he can can because such work visas/passes are personal to the holder, and the Immigration Department has the power to vary the conditions - allowing the said worker to work for another employer - enabling the migrant worker to live and work in Malaysia possibly until all his/her cases are settled and justice done. [See below the case of Rajakanu Boopathy and about 35 other migrant workers managed to do so that their Labour Court Trial could continue - sadly, this was also the case where contempt proceedings against the Malaysian Director General of Immigration had to embarrassingly happen]
What will HR Minister Kula do to ensure worker and trade union rights in Malaysia improves, and is always protected even for migrant workers?
In Hong Kong, migrant workers are provided board and lodging until the claims/complaints are resolved?
If migrant workers can be so easily exploited and employers can get away with rights violations, Malaysian workers also suffer? Employers will prefer the 'bonded' easily cheated slave like migrant worker over Malaysian workers?
Now many a migrant worker is also forced to work on 'REST' days and even public holidays - and given Malaysia's DRACONIAN overtime limit of 104 hours per month, workers can be made to work 12 hours per day...7 days a week? Is that just and fair...
ASK YOURSELF HOW MANY HOURS A DAY SHOULD YOU WORK? HOW MANY HOURS OF SLEEP? HOW MANY HOURS OF SOCIAL LIFE? Workers fought for the right to have '8 hours work...8 hours rest ...8 hours social life? But sadly, Malaysian laws do not protect enough this right...and WORSE still, legally allow employers to breach this right..
What was embarassing about the WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd situation was that the Ministry was investigating since August 2018...and the workers went on strike recently over non-payment of wages for past 3 months? Does this mean that this company committed new VIOLATIONS under the nose of the Ministry's officers?
PENALTY - The current labour law provides very inadequate punishment for worker rights violations...
Sadly, now if the employer does not pay his worker 3 months wages, it is a JOKE when found guilty, he simply has to pay the said worker the 3 months wages, and this will be the Fine...same with overtime, work on rest day, etc ...
Section 100 - Penalties for failure or non-compliance in relation to rest days, overtime, holidays, annual leave, and sick leave [Employment Act 1955]
(1) Any
employer who fails to pay any of his employees wages for work done by
his employee on a rest day or pays wages less than the rate provided
under section 60 commits an offence, and shall also, on conviction, be
ordered by the court before which he is convicted to pay to the employee
concerned the wages due for work done on every rest day at the rate
provided under section 60, and the amount of such wages shall be
recoverable as if it were a fine imposed by such court....
As you can see, this is no DETERRENT PENALTY at all...worse, the worker would have also expended time and money lodging the claim...fighting his case(which include maybe paying legal fees)...and end of the day, he gets back just 3 months pay?
It would have been JUST if the employer is forced to pay the worker 2-3 times the amount due, or at the very least 1.5 times.
2,000 workers not paid for 3 months? Will the government charge the employer for 2,000 offences or just simply one?
Well, the penalty now is fine not exceeding RM10,000 - therefore if the employer charged for one offence, he gets fined RM10,000. I say charge them for 2,000 offenses..every single worker violated is 1 offence...
99A General penalty
Any person who
commits any offence under, or contravenes any provision of, this Act,
or any regulations, order, or other subsidiary legislation whatsoever
made thereunder, in respect of which no penalty is provided, shall be
liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding ten thousand ringgit.
Who is the government charging?
- Just the Company OR Company + Directors + Managers/CEO? Monitor this to see what this PH government does...
As the law, in section 101B, says that when a Company commits the offence - then the Director/s, Managers/CEOs, etc also has committed the offence... Not charging rich (or politically connected) persons who are the Directors, Managers ...and just going after the Company alone is wrong and bad...
101B Offence by body corporate, etc.[Employment Act 1955]
Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a body corporate, partnership, society or trade union-
(a)
in the case of a body corporate, any person who is a director, manager,
or other similar officer of the body corporate at the time of the
commission of the offence; (b) in the case of a partnership, every partner in the partnership at the time of the commission of the offence; and (c)
in the case of a society or trade union, every office-bearer of the
society or trade union at the time of the commission of the offence,
shall
be deemed to have committed the offence and may be charged jointly or
severally in the same proceedings as the body corporate, partnership,
society or trade union.
Now, Kula says the company committed 42 different offences ...let us see, who the government charges - will it also include the Directors, etc or simply just the 'company'.
Now, if a company paid its local workers, but then did not pay their migrant workers - this is DISCRIMINATION, and this is clearly against
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.
“In this particular WRP case, the company paid the local workers because
they can go to the Labour Department to lodge a report if they were not
paid, but these foreign workers, they can’t go and this is not fair,”
he said.
Again, this non-discrimination between local and foreign worker is LAME - it should be clearly made an offence...full stop. And the penalty should be high.
DISCRIMINATION - well, in Malaysia now nothing stopping private sector employers discriminating on the basis of GENDER too - will the law be amended to make sure that workers are not discriminated on the basis of...
More than 10 companies are being monitored: Kula Segaran
02 Feb 2019 / 08:24 H.
IPOH: The Human Resources Ministry is monitoring more than 10 companies for violating the Employment Act against its foreign workers, according to its minister M. Kula Segaran.
Without revealing the name of the companies, the minister said employers should treat their foreign workers as well as they treat their Malaysian workers.
He said this to reporters here today after presenting financial aid to the 26 villagers of Kampung Tai Lee in Buntong whose houses were damaged by the storm on Jan 6.
Meanwhile, commenting on the strike by 2,000 Nepalese workers of a rubber glove factory in Sepang last Tuesday, Kula Segaran said the ministry, through its investigations, had identified WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd as having committed at least 42 labour offences based since August last year.
“We have at least 42 cases against this company including providing terrible condition for their workers. The ministry will take action against any companies who breach the laws.
“In this particular WRP case, the company paid the local workers because they can go to the Labour Department to lodge a report if they were not paid, but these foreign workers, they can’t go and this is not fair,” he said.
Yesterday, The Labour Department in a statement said the investigations carried out also found that the company, WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, have committed other labour offences including not paying overtime, unfair pay cuts and wrongful working hours during break and public holidays. — Bernama
A group of 36 Indian migrant workers who claim to have 'been deceived'
by the Immigration Department today appealed to the Human Rights
Commission (Suhakam) to assist them in getting valid work permits.
Fourteen of the workers representing the group handed over a memorandum
to commissioner Harun Hashim at the Suhakam office this morning.
They were accompanied by their lawyers Charles Hector and Roland Engan
as well as the director of Central Generative Sdn Bhd, Mohd Ali Abdul
Wahid.
Their memorandum stated that their rights as workers had been violated
by 'the delay and dishonesty of the Immigration Department' which they
alleged issued them with expired work permits.
"We appeal to Suhakam to help us get our permits, noting that we have
already paid the necessary levy and that what we are asking for is
something that has already been ordered by the Kuala Lumpur High Court,"
the workers' spokesman Rajakannu Boopathy said.
He added that the delay by the Immigration department had deprived the
group of their right to work legally in the country and had also
resulted in several of the workers being arrested by police and
detained at illegal immigrant detention camps.
Temporary work permit
Harun informed the workers that he will hand over the memorandum to the
other Suhakam commissioners before deciding on a course of action.
"I can't decide on this issue on my own. This (memorandum) will go
before the commission and we will conduct an initial enquiry to
establish whether there should be a public enquiry," Harun said.
A copy of the memorandum was also handed over to the Bar Council this afternoon.
The workers' ordeal began 20 months ago when they initiated a lawsuit
against their former employer, Gopis Construction Sdn Bhd, whom they
alleged failed to pay them their wages.
They then applied to the Immigration Department for permission to work
on their own or alternatively be transferred to another employer.
On Dec 6 last year, the High Court ordered the Immigration Department
to issue temporary work permits to the workers to enable them to work
legally for a construction company, Central Generative Sdn Bhd.
Contempt proceedings
The workers claim that the Director-General of Immigration issued
permits on April 19, but 13 of the permits had lapsed in January and
February this year while the rest lapsed on July 8.
The workers are now seeking leave to commence contempt proceedings
against the former Director-General of Immigration Aseh Che Mat and five
other Immigration Department officers for failing to comply with the
High Court order.
Their application was filed at the High Court last week and will be heard on July 25.
According to Charles Hector, existing laws in the country only allow
migrant workers to complain against their employers for violation of
their rights but do no provide a mechanism for the worker to continue to
work and earn legally in Malaysia.
"It is thus unfeasible for them to commence legal action," he said
adding there was also no clear law and penalties against employers who
violated migrant workers' rights.
"For example, an employer must provide the Immigration Department with a
contract of employment as a condition for the issuance of the work
permit (the expatriate identification pass), but when the employer fails
to pay wages according to that contract, the department does not
penalise the employer.
"There is no enforcement against employers. In fact, these workers'
former employer, despite all his violations, is not blacklisted and
continues to be given permits to recruit migrant workers," Hector said.
Required skills
Central Generative director Mohd Ali told
malaysiakini
that his company was incurring high costs due to the Immigration department's delay in issuing the worker's permits.
He said that the workers' levy fees amounting to more that RM40,000 was
being borne by the company as the workers had entered a two-year
contract with the company on Dec 6 last year, after the High Court
order.
"We can't just leave these workers alone now after having invested so
much in them. Furthermore, we have a lot of job opportunities and we
need these workers who have the skills required.
"But we are suffering together with them because they can't work without the permits," Mohd Ali said.- Malaysiakini, 16/7/2001
4 political parties made an agreement to form the Pakatan Harapan.
An agreement of common positions, values and principles, as would partially be reflected in Election Manifestos. - NO PROBLEM THERE
An agreement on who will contest in the different Parliament and/or State Legislative Assembly seat - NO PROBLEM THERE.
NO PROBLEM THERE - because that is up to the said 4 Political Parties, and the rest of us Malaysians have none or little say.
PROBLEM if these 4 Political Parties also agreed on who will be the Prime Minister, and who will be the subsequent Prime Minister and after how long?
WELL, that is NOT the decision of the 4 Pakatan Harapan political parties, and such agreement even goes against the Federal Constitution? Were even all the now elected Pakatan Harapan and other MPs even part of that decision-making process? Has it even been agreed to by the members of the said 4 different political parties?
Anwar Ibrahim and PKR, and some others, have been raising this issue about how it has been agreed that Anwar will succeed Mahathir as Prime Minister because of that 'agreement'? It has been a distraction but it is also affecting the REFORMS Malaysians expected after the UMNO-BN was ousted... The reforms are really so much more important than Anwar Ibrahim being the next Prime Minister...but apparently Anwar and his people are just too focussed on the 'next Prime Minister' rather than cleaning up and reforming the government.
NOW, Who decides on who is the Prime Minister, who will remain as Prime Minister and for how long, and later who will be the NEXT Prime Minister?
It is the PEOPLE(RAKYAT) that decides...not political parties, and who becomes PM, removed as PM or re-appointed as the next PM is determined by the people vide the Peoples' Representatives, the Members of Parliament(MP). MPs are peoples' representative and they listen to the people - not their political party or their leaders. They represent the people - not their political party.
So, will Mahathir be kicked out as PM or whether Anwar becomes the next PM - it is the decision of the people...and any 'agreement' between the PH parties is 'null and void' as it is also against the Federal Constitution.
43 Cabinet (Federal Constitution)
(2) The Cabinet shall be appointed as follows, that is to say:
(a)
the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall first appoint as Perdana Menteri (Prime
Minister) to preside over the Cabinet a member of the House of
Representatives who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence
of the majority of the members of that House; and
Should Mahathir resign as Prime Minister in 2 years or 10 years? Well, that is up to the people...
Who should be the next Prime Minister? Anwar Ibrahim? - Well, that is also up to the people...
There is really NO URGENCY at all for us to even be talking about 'next PM' and when at this point, is there?
The problem that is emerging in the new government, especially in some of the Ministries is an 'UMNO-BN' like behavior and culture, and people are getting worried...that what they voted out...really just may have come back with a 'new' face? To be fair, not all MPs/Ministers are like this...
Disturbing trends being noticed..
- Appointment of self as Presidents of Universities, appointment of fellow party leaders as Chairmans/Board Members/CEOs of GLCs, government agencies...
- Insistence on political appointments for Local Council(Local Governments), Village leaders, etc [Tok Batins supporting BN in Cameron Highland - why?they are political appointees of the BN government, and it is not really democratically elected leaders of the Orang Asli Communities...]
- Request for preference with regard contracts/tenders for party leaders/members - This came out in one component party's General Meeting, and the suggestion seems to get support of many other members present...this was scary especially when not even 9 months after General Elections in May 2018.
- It is sad that NOT ALL government MPs have even submitted their Declaration of Assets - only about 93%. Recent check also seems to indicate that Anwar Ibrahim also has yet to submit his 'Asset Declaration' - a bad example by someone wanting to be future Prime Minister?
Remember that all MPs not in the Cabinet are known as the 'Backbenchers' and their duty is to serve as a check and balance of the government(PM and Cabinet included) - but have the PH backbenchers been speaking out? Or are there no concerns at all?
REFERENDUM - Ask the people who they want as their next Prime Minister?
REFERENDUM - Ask the people whether they want to change the current PM and when?
PERSONALLY, for our next Prime Minister, I would prefer someone who have not been in the past UMNO-BN Cabinet or party leadership(including Branch and/or Division leaders). WHY? They could be still 'influenced' by the old UMNO-BN culture, and as such there may be little or NO reforms...or even ideas.
Who are some of the others who could be considered as the next Prime Minister? What about Husam or Mat Sabu from Amanah? What about someone from DAP and/or PKR, who were not previously in UMNO-BN? What about Tony Pua? What about Barubian? Maybe, we could all look at the current MPs, and even non-MPs who could later become an MP through a by-election?
It really is crucial for these MPs and leaders to also speak-up so we know who they are? What their positions are? Many PH MPs are 'silent' - don't they have their own opinion? their own views? their own positions? their own thoughts and principles? [Those who simply silently choose not to express their views - who choose to 'blindly' support the position of the government on all matters is certainly not the kind of person we want as next PM?]
As party member, you may be bound to party or government decisions(which mind you are merely majority decisions/views). All you need to do when expressing a different opinion/view is to state that this is your personal view - not the party/government position, and no democratic government/political party will penalize members for expressing themselves as is a right in any democracy. If they do, then they demonstrate how undemocratic they are?
Next Prime Minister? What about a woman - Fuziah Salleh(the one who was very active on Lynas)? Nurul Izzah (her recent decision to not take any political appointment - maybe she is her own person?
A non-Malay Prime Minister? Why not? All are Malaysians and we should choose the best...What about Tony Pua(we all know that he works and was actively researching and exposing wrongs without fear or favour?), Charles Santiago (a human rights activist turn politician, actively talking and educating about issues about TPPA, worker and other issues..), ...
What about a Malay, not previously in any UMNO-BN Cabinet or leadership position? Maybe Husam Musa(he highlighted possible wrongdoing on issues of land/forest and got 'expelled' from PAS, making him different from those who lost PAS elections and left to form Amanah?), Mat Sabu (We know that he has been vocal and from Parti Amanah), Syed Saddiq( young man possibly not yet influenced by bad political practices...)
What about the party leaders - maybe they should not be PM or Minister but play the important role of check and balance as one of 4 PH party leaders? When they joined Cabinet, well they lose some of their freedom to act as a Cabinet is the PMs cabinet and being in Cabinet, they cannot effectively just speak out as their party leader, can they?
ANWAR IBRAHIM - I wonder...
Whether PKR threatened not to be part of Pakatan Hareapan if the other parties did not agree to immediately 'Pardon' Anwar, and agree that Anwar will thereafter replace Mahathir as PM? If other party leaders did not agree, then Pakatan Harapan may have just been Amanah, Bersatu and DAP, who really may have also generated the same GE14 results?
If that happened, one is concerned whether wellbeing and the future of Malaysians was a PRIMARY concern at all for PKR? for Anwar?
Because there was no contest for PKR President, one wonders whether he even have the support of the 100,000 plus PKR members? What percentage? [PKR did mention that they did have about 800,000 plus members who could vote - but looking at the election results, I wonder? Did the majority of PKR members 'boycott' the party elections? Why? OR does PKR really have much lesser real members...lesser members really is not a factor - because most Malaysians choose to not be formal members of parties, but rather just support or do not support from the outside...
As of May 9 when the 14th general election was held, PKR’s membership
stood at 550,000 members but shot up to more than 900,000 by June 26. Saifuddin
added that PKR had updated its membership list and following that,
approximately 840,000 members were eligible to vote in the party’s polls
which start tomorrow in Penang and Kedah. - New Straits Times, 21/9/2018
As the final official day of voting ended today, Azmin Ali appeared
set to win a third term as PKR deputy president against a strong
challenge by Rafizi Ramli.According to an unofficial tally by Malaysiakini, Azmin now has 67,449 votes against Rafizi's 62,716 votes, which marked a 4,733 majority. - Malaysiakini, 11/11/2018
Remember, UMNO too claimed a membership of 3 million...
Umno's strength comes from its 3 million members and not from certain
individuals, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak here today.He
said thus, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad could stick to
his decision of not ever returning to Umno as the move would not cause
any problem to the party."I am not being arrogant or
trying to humiliate him (Dr Mahathir)...The truth is, the party's
strength lies in the support of its 3 million members, not just the
president alone. That is why I am saying that he can go ahead with it.
If he didn't come, it is not a problem. - New Straits Times, 30/7/2017
2,000 workers had to strike for about 3 days for Malaysian government to ACT?
New PH Human Resource Minister media reported actions and stance was disappointing when allegations of worker rights abuse was highlighted against a Malaysian company - he quickly suggested 'fake news'...possible 'actions of rivals'...and after a super fast investigations declared that all was well. His media conference, was with the alleged perpetrator company's representative - Perception was this government was also with employers even when confronting possible worker rights violations.
Then, STRIKE by 2,000 workers...sees the government finally taking action against a Company now.
SAD WHEN WORKERS HAVE TO RESORT TO 'STRIKES' BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT ACTS. A mere complaint or a communication of or knowledge' of possible violations should immediately move the Ministry to investigate ... and act fast...
CONTRACTOR FOR LABOUR - will the government abolish it? The Opposition was strongly with workers and unions before...now, how?
OVERTIME LIMIT of 104 hours per month - Will the PH government respect '8 hours work 8 hours rest and 8 hours social life' ...or simply not bother, and allow workers to work 12 hours every day...The reason that 'the workers want it'...is just so lame...we have to abide by international standards. A worker should have sufficient income working 8 hours per day(48 hours per week)...and the way to ensure that is that they get just wages...
REGULAR EMPLOYMENT - The government should really abolish the use of short-term employment, and ensure that all workers have employment security - regular employment until retirement/company shuts down/legitimate retrenchments/etc. Now, if you work less than 12 months, and is terminated- you have NO TERMINATION or LAY OFF benefits?
Employer did not pay wages for 3 months - and then suddenly say no money and shut down. Companies can do this but not sole proprietors and/or partnership - because if business no money, workers can go after the sole proprietor and/or partner to get what the business owes the worker...but not if employer is Company. Maybe, Directors and Major Shareholders should be forced to give a personal guarantee that they will pay the debts to workers, if the business fails. Banks would not give loans to company without these Directors' personal guarantees...so same for workers?
Ministry to take glove company to court over unpaid wages
Malaysiakini |
Published:
| Modified:
A glove manufacturer will soon be hauled to court over unpaid wages and other labour-related offences.
This
follows an investigation by the Human Resource Ministry's Labour
Department after a three-day strike staged by nearly 2,000 of the
company's Nepali workers.
"Action will be carried out soon to
ensure the same offences will not be repeated and it will serve as a
reminder to other employers," said the department in a statement today.
It did not elaborate on the provision of law that will be used against the company.
The migrant workers of the WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, a glove manufacturing company in Sepang, had gone on a strike earlier this week claiming that they were not paid three months worth of wages.
The
Labour Department, which was informed by the police of the strike on
Jan 29, said it paid a visit to the company’s premises, together with
representatives from Industrial Relations Department, Bangladesh High
Commission and Nepal Embassy, to identify the reason behind the strike.
“Investigations
found that the main reason of the strike was that the employer had
failed to pay the workers since November 2018," said the department.
It also identified other offences, namely delay in overtime payment and illegitimate reduction of wages.
Following
discussions with the management, the department noted that WRP Asia
Pacific agreed to pay the outstanding salaries and overtime payment owed
to the staff by Feb 28.
Last December, The Guardian
revealed that the British National Health Service was using medical
gloves made in Malaysian factories, where migrant workers mainly from
Nepal and Bangladesh, were allegedly subjected to exploitative working
conditions.
WRP Asia Pacific and another major glove manufacturer were named in the report.
Three of the 19 workers interviewed by The Guardian
were from WRP Asia Pacific, and they related stories of excessive
overtime, confiscation of passports and illegal withholding of their
salaries. - Malaysiakini, 31/1/2019
Almost 2,000 Nepali glove factory workers end 3-day strike
Alyaa Alhadjri |
Published:
| Modified:
Nearly 2,000 Nepali workers at a glove
manufacturing factory in Sepang have ended their three-day strike after
the management promised to settle their outstanding salaries.
Sources told Malaysiakini that
Labour Department officials were onsite at the WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd
factory for an inspection earlier today, as well as to meet with the
striking workers and the management.
"The Labour Department confirmed that the workers were not paid their wages for the last three months.
"They
also found that the workers were living in terrible conditions," said
the source, a labour activist in communication with a Nepali counterpart
who forwarded the matter to authorities from the country.
"The company will pay all the wages within this week," said the source.
'Exploitative conditions'
Last December, The Guardianrevealed that
the British National Health Service was using medical gloves made in
Malaysian factories where migrant workers are allegedly subjected to
forced labour, forced overtime, debt bondage, withheld wages and
passport confiscation.
The report stated that WRP and another
major glove manufacturer were found to have allegedly subjected
thousands of migrant workers from Nepal and Bangladesh to exploitative
working conditions.
Three of 19 workers interviewed by The Guardian were from WRP. They related stories of excessive overtime, confiscation of passports and illegal withholding of their salaries.
According
to the newspaper, a potential client who visited the WRP factory said
he was shocked by what he had witnessed, and claimed the overall working
conditions were some of "the worst he had ever seen".
Among
others, it was claimed that factory temperatures were up to 70°C for
those working near the ovens, and that more than 3,000 workers were
housed in a hostel built for 1,800.
In a statement to The Guardian,
WRP chief executive Lee Son Hong dismissed the allegations of forced
labour as "baseless" and insisted that the company had never withheld or
delayed payments for its employees.
When contacted, Sepang police chief Abdul Aziz Ali confirmed
that the workers had been picketing outside the factory for the last
three days.
"Yes, they held a strike. But the issue has been settled," he told Malaysiakini.
However, Abdul Aziz said, no statement was recorded from the employer, as the incident involved no criminal elements.
"This is not a criminal case. It is (a dispute) between the workers and their employers.
"When their employer did not pay them for three months, they were angry and held a strike.
"Once the issue of salary was resolved, the strike ended," Abdul Aziz added.
Malaysia is the world’s glove capital, producing three out of every five pairs of gloves used globally. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia says it will take a medical glove manufacturer
to court after it failed to pay its workers for three months, sparking a
protest.
The government launched an investigation against WRP after workers,
who are mainly from Bangladesh and Nepal, went on strike. It found their
wages had been withheld since November.
WRP confirmed there had been a protest by workers but said the
dispute had now been resolved. In an email to the Thomson Reuters
Foundation, it said it was unaware of the government’s plans to
prosecute, and called the charges “unfounded”.
“The prosecution will be made soon to ensure the same offence would
not be repeated and as a warning to other employers,” the Labour
Department said in a statement yesterday.
This was despite WRP agreeing to settle the outstanding wages, it said. It did not say how many workers were affected.
Labour rights abuses have come under the spotlight in Malaysia, which
relies on nearly two million migrant workers to staff its plantations,
factories and construction sites.
Malaysia has become the world’s glove capital, producing three out of
every five pairs of gloves used in the world according to industry
data, exporting to countries like Britain and the US.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation reported in December that workers at
the world’s largest glove maker, Top Glove, had worked excessive
overtime and in some cases exceeded the legal limit to help clear debts
to recruitment agents.
The expose prompted investigations by the British government after it
found some Top Glove supplies had been used in its hospitals, and by
Australian rubber giant Ansell. Malaysia also vowed to take action.
Top Glove is the world’s leading glove manufacturer followed by Malaysia-based firms including Hartalega, Kossan and Supermax.
WRP, headquartered just outside Kuala Lumpur, is smaller. Its website
said it produced about 11 billion gloves a year and had more than 4,000
workers in 2016.
The government said the company had also breached other labour laws, including making unlawful salary deductions.
WRP said it had “managed to settle the matter from the workers’ side”
and was working with “various recruitment agencies and local
contractors in order to ensure our migrant workers’ interest are better
taken care of in the future”. - FMT News, 1/2/2019
Malaysia to take glovemaker to court for not paying workers
KUALA
LUMPUR (Feb 1): Malaysia said on Thursday it would take a medical glove
manufacturer to court after it failed to pay its workers for three
months, sparking a protest.
The government launched an investigation against WRP after workers,
who are mainly from Bangladesh and Nepal, went on strike. It found their
wages had been withheld since November.
WRP confirmed there had been a protest by workers but said the
dispute had now been resolved. In an email to the Thomson Reuters
Foundation, it said it was unaware of the government's plans to
prosecute, and called the charges "unfounded".
"The prosecution will be made soon to ensure the same offence would
not be repeated and as a warning to other employers," Malaysia's Labour
Department said in a statement.
This was despite WRP agreeing to settle the outstanding wages, it said. It did not say how many workers were affected.
Labour rights abuses have come under the spotlight in Malaysia, which
relies on nearly two million migrant workers to staff its plantations,
factories and construction sites.
Malaysia has become the world's glove capital, producing three out of
every five pairs of gloves used in the world according to industry
data, exporting to countries like Britain and the United States.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation reported in December that workers at
the world's largest glovemaker, Malaysia's Top Glove, have worked
excessive overtime and in some cases exceed the legal limit to help
clear debts to recruitment agents.
The expose prompted investigations by the British government after it
found some Top Glove supplies had been used in its hospitals, and by
Australian rubber giant Ansell. Malaysia also vowed to take action.
Top Glove is the world's leading glove manufacturer followed by Malaysia-based firms including Hartalega, Kossan and Supermax.
WRP, headquartered just outside the capital Kuala Lumpur, is smaller.
Its website said it produced about 11 billion gloves a year and had
more than 4,000 workers in 2016.
The government said the company had also breached other labour laws, including making unlawful salary deductions.
WRP said it had "managed to settle the matter from the workers' side"
and was working with "various recruitment agencies and local
contractors in order to ensure our migrant workers' interest are better
taken care of in the future". - The Edge Market, 1/2/2019
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