Friday, January 10, 2020

SOCSO - Government decided workers' rep must end - let workers democratically choose their reps...

Government removes worker representative from SOCSO Board - Well, it looks that workers or trade unions do not have the FREEDOM to choose the workers' representative on the SOCSO Board - maybe so also for the EPF Board and other Boards where a worker representative sits.

Why did the MTUC Secretary General, who is a democratically elected position in MTUC removed? Well, because he 'speaks up' for workers...not a 'team player'. If representatives of workers are expected to be a 'team player' - and not raise issues and objections on behalf of workers, then he/she is not TRULY a workers' representative BUT merely a 'Political Appointee' who is expected to just warm the seat in Board meetings and agree with all(or any) proposal of the SOCSO Board and/or government of the day...

“He would raise a ruckus over everything and was not a team player, ’’ said the board member, ...
Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran said there was a request from the board to have Solomon removed....“We were told that he was not a suitable person to sit on the Socso board and was requested to remove him.“A new person representing the nation’s private sector workforce has been identified to take Solomon’s place.
The HR Minister says that it was the request of the SOCSO Board - but then the new Pakatan Harapan government Minister can be different and reject such requests ...for after all, Solomon's tenure was supposed to end on 31 July 2021... 

A perusal of the past will see that these workers' representatives in SOCSO, MTUC,...boards have in the past failed to publicly raise issues of concern - after all, they know of moves and decisions being pushed in SOCSO and EPF.. did the workers' rep object to EPF's or SOCSO's decisions ...or these 'worker reps' just kept secret decisions being made from even MTUC and Trade Unions ...Are these worker reps just enjoying the monies they get...(how much really)...or are they fighting for the interest of workers in SOCSO and EPF..

The premature removal of Solomon by the Minister indicates that government may want 'yes men' or mere seat warmers to sit in these various Boards..


Should the President or the Secretary General of MTUC be sitting on the SOCSO or EPF Boards -  Strategically, they being the leaders of MTUC should not be part of any such Board so that they can lead the workers' struggle without being compromised...because some of these Boards may want their members to lobby outside when internal decisions are being made OR take an opposing position after the Board makes a decision - for this reason, it is best that the main leaders of UNIONs(including MTUC) should not be in a position that will impede their FREEDOM of PROTEST as leaders of MTUC or workers? 

How much do workers' rep get paid by their appointment to sit on the SOCSO Board? Do they pocket these money for themselves....OR do they channel all back to MTUC for the use of all workers...after all MTUC already pays some the leaders ..

END Political appointment in favour of democratically elected representatives and leaders at all levels...


MTUC representative removed from Socso board

Nation
Friday, 10 Jan 2020

By WANI MUTHIAH


KLANG: The troubled Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has been dealt with another blow with the removal of its representative from the Social Security Organisation (Socso) board.

MTUC’s representative, its secretary-general J. Solomon, was removed from the board effective Dec 31.

“I was given the letter of termination on Dec 30 and I was removed from the board the following day even though my tenure rightfully ends on July 31,2021, ’’ said Solomon.

He said he had no inkling why he was removed.

“I don’t see the reason why I had to be prematurely terminated without reason, ’’ he said.
Solomon was appointed to the board in January 2019 replacing MTUC president Datuk Abdul Halim Mansor.

A member of the Socso board, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity, said Solomon was removed because he was disruptive during meetings.

“He would raise a ruckus over everything and was not a team player, ’’ said the board member, adding that it was difficult to bring reforms to Socso when every board meeting was riddled with belligerence.

Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran said there was a request from the board to have Solomon removed.

“We were told that he was not a suitable person to sit on the Socso board and was requested to remove him.

“A new person representing the nation’s private sector workforce has been identified to take Solomon’s place.

“We will announce when the person is appointed, ’’ said Kulasegaran.

Abdul Halim said Solomon’s removal was reminiscent of his own sacking from the board in September 2018 where he was issued with a 24-hour termination notice.

“We are very vocal and Solomon has been made the sacrificial lamb, ” he said.

“He should have been allowed to finish his term.’’

He added that MTUC was not in the position to nominate a representative to sit on the Socso board due to its temporary suspension by the Registrar of Societies for alleged mismanagement. - Star, 10/1/2020

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