Tuesday, April 30, 2013

87 Groups :- RENESAS MUST IMMEDIATELY ACCORD RECOGNITION TO THE UNION AND REINSTATE WAN NOORULAZHAR

Joint Statement- 4/4/2013

RENESAS MUST IMMEDIATELY ACCORD RECOGNITION TO THE UNION
AND REINSTATE WAN NOORULAZHAR

We, the 87 undersigned civil society organisations, trade unions and groups call on RENESAS Semiconductor KL Sdn Bhd (formerly known as NEC Semiconductors (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd] to respect the freedom of association and the right to effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, being one of the basic rights of workers and one also one of the core values of International Labour Organisation (ILO)'s. RENESAS must stop obstructing or delaying, and immediately accord recognition to Electronic Industry Employees Union Western Region, Peninsular Malaysia (EIEUWR)/ Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Barat Semenjung Malaysia(KSIEWBSM)[UNION] so that workers at RENESAS can at last begin to enjoy the benefits of collective bargaining agreement. It has been more than 3 years since the UNION first applied in January 2010 for recognition by RENESAS.

In Malaysia, after being registered, recognition by the employer is needed before the UNION can start negotiating and enter into any Collective Bargaining Agreement with the employer company. The UNION has to submit a claim for recognition, and within 21 days, the company can accord recognition or not. If not, then the Director General of Industrial Relations (DGIR) steps in and start the process of conducting a secret ballot to ensure that more than 5o% plus one of the qualified workers is for the union – then the union is accorded recognition, and thereafter can effectively represent the workers.

Even though about 70% (1,300) of RENESAS’s workers eligible to be members of the union were already members of EIEUWR when the first application was made by the UNION to the company for recognition, RENESAS did not accord recognition and after more than 3 years and RENESAS still refuses to recognize the UNION.

On 18/1/2010, EIEUWR submitted the 1st application for recognition to RENESAS. The company responded that there was a pro-tem in-house union, which was unregistered, also seeking recognition. The Director General of Industrial Relations (DGIR) rejected this reason. Then, RENESAS claimed that they did not receive the claim for recognition, when the application had been hand delivered personally by Wan Noorulazhar, the Union President, and RENESAS acknowledged receipt. The DGIR later asked the Union to send again their claim for recognition.

The 2nd claim for recognition was submitted on 17/8/2010, this time by acknowledged receipt registered post, and again RENESAS claimed they did not receive it, and the UNION also did not receive back the duly signed acknowledged receipt card from the postal services.

The 3rd claim for recognition was submitted to RENESAS on 8/10/2010, and this time using the National Courier Poslaju. After receipt of the UNION’s letter, RENESAS send it back to Poslaju asking that the letter be returned to the UNION. Poslaju provided a letter confirming this. RENESAS could not deny receipt this time, and rightfully the DGIR should have done the needful which was to the conduct of a ‘secret ballot’. But, there was inaction on the part of the DGIR for many months despite repeated demands by the UNION, and finally on 12/8/2011, the UNION had a picket in front of the Ministry of Human Resources. The DGIR then informed the UNION that the said relevant documents had been misplaced, and the blame was put on the Deputy DGIR responsible, who allegedly has since then been removed from that position. The DGIR then asked the Union to submit yet another claim for recognition.

The 4th claim for recognition was made on 8/9/2011. RENESAS’s now challenged the validity of the registration of EIEUWR(the UNION) itself, and the qualification of the UNION’s General Secretary, one Bruno Gentil Pereira. When the Minister rejected this objection on 9/4/2012, RENESAS proceeded to filed a High Court case to challenge the Minister’s decision on 8/5/2012, whereby on 28/6/2012, the High Court dismissed the RENESAS’s application. RENESAS then appealed to the Court of Appeal who also unanimously dismissed the case on 5/12/2012.

After the High Court dismissed RENESAS application on 28/6/2012, there was no court order stopping the DGIR from proceeding with the secret ballot but the DGIR did not do anything.

After much protestation by the Union, the DGIR finally started the process by writing to RENESAS to submit Form B, as required by law, on about 14/12/2012. RENESAS did not comply and a second letter was sent by the DGIR on 14/1/2013. RENESAS again did not comply, and now it is believed that a third letter has been sent by the DGIR.

When, and if the day finally comes for the ‘secret ballot’, the workers entitled to vote would be the workers as of the date the claim was submitted, being 8/9/2011 but with the existence of short-term contracts, many of the pro-union workers may no more be employees of RENESAS, and this will prejudice the UNION, who still will have to show that it has the support of at least 50% plus one of the number of qualified employees as per the list of qualified employees on 8/9/2011. The tactic of delaying the secret ballot works in favour of the employer, and prejudices the UNION.

Wan Noorulazhar bin Mohd Hanafiah, an employee of RENESAS who is the President of the UNION was dismissed on 26/8/2011 by RENESAS whereby the alleged misconduct, was that his actions were ‘contrary to explicit company policies’. He allegedly made statements about treatment of workers in a closed Facebook Group, whose members were fellow workers. The alleged misconduct It had nothing to do with his work performance. The wrongful dismissal case is now before the Industrial court.

The current trend at the Industrial Courts when it makes a finding the worker has been wrongfully dismissed by the employer is not to order reinstatement, but to rather order compensation. If not reinstated, workers of RENESAS would be deprived of a leader. RENESAS can at any time reinstate Wan Noorulazhar bin Mohd Hanafiah without loss of benefits.

On 14/3/2013, EIUWR and the workers of RENESAS again had a protest picket at Putrajaya.

We call on RENESAS Semiconductor KL Sdn Bhd to immediately accord recognition to Electronic Industry Employees Union Western Region (EIEUWR), and immediately reinstate Wan Noorulazhar bin Mohd Hanafiah and all other worker leaders terminated.


Senator Syed Shahir bin Syed Mohamud
Charles Hector
Mohd Roszeli bin Majid
Pranom Somwong
Badrulzaman bin Mohd Ghazali

For and on behalf the 87 organisations listed below

ALIRAN
Andhra Pradesh State Domestic Workers' Union, India
Asia Monitor Resource Centre(AMRC)
Asia  Pacific  Forum on Women , Law and Development ( APWLD)
Asia Floor Wage Alliance- SEA Office
Building and Wood Workers International Asia Pacific Regional Office (BWI APRO)
Center for Migrant Advocacy ,Philippines
Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD) Sri Lanka
Center for Orang  Asli Concerns (COAC)
CIMS- Centre for Indian Migrant Studies

Clean Clothes Campaign
Committee for Asian Women, Bangkok
Community Action Network (CAN), Malaysia
Confederation of Free Trade Unions of India
Dignity International
GoodElectronics
GoodElectronics Thailand (GET)
Hope Workers' Center, Taiwan
Hsinchu Catholic Diocese Migrants and Immigrants Service Center (HMISC), Taiwan
Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com

IDWN( International  Domestic Workers’  Network)
IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh
International Campaign for Responsible Technology, US
International League of Peoples' Struggle – Canada
Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW), Cambodia
LIPS (Lembaga Informasi Perburuhan Sedane/Sedane Labour Resource Centre) Indonesia
MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility
MAP Foundation, Thailand
Maquiladora Health & Safety Support Network, Berkeley, CA  USA

Migrant Care
Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)
Migrant Forum India (MF India)
Migrant Forum Lanka (MFL)
Migrants Rights Council India
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)
NAMM (Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia)
NDWM -  National Domestic Workers' Movement, India
NLD-LA (National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas), Malaysia
Pakistan Rural Workers Social Welfare Organization (PRWSWO)

Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)
People & Planet, UK
Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
PINAY Quebec
Progressive Labor Union of Domestic Workers- Hong Kong
PSWS (Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor)
Pusat KOMAS (KOMAS)
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), Bangladesh
SALT (School of Acting Justly Loving Tenderly and Walking Humbly)
SBMI (Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia)

Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW), Philippines
State Enterprises Workers' Relations Confederation (SERC), Thailand
State Railway Workers' Union of Thailand (SRU), Thailand
SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia)
Tenaganita, Malaysia
The Alliance of Progressive Labor - Hong Kong
Tourism Employees Association of Maldives
Women's Rehabilitation Center (WOREC) Nepal
Workers Assistance Center, Inc, Philippines
Workers Hub For Change (WH4C)

Women Workers Lead
Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
Youth For Peace/Peace Institute of Cambodia (YFP/PIC)

Malaysian Unions
Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Timur Semenanjung Malaysia (KSIEWTSM)
Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan Semenanjung Malaysia
Kesatuan Sekerja Pekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Utara
Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja MHS Aviation Berhad
Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific
Paper & Paper Products Manufacturing Employees' Union Of Malaysia (PPPMEU)
TNBJOU (TNB Junior Officers Union), Malaysia
Malayan Technical Services Union (MTSU)
NUBE (National Union of Banking Employees), Malaysia
Association of Maybank Executive
Kesatuan Kebangsaan Pekerja Pekerja Perusahaan Alat Alat Pengangkutan Dan Sekutu(NUTEAIW)
Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Dalam Perkhidmatan Perubatan Dan Kesihatan Swasta-[Union Of Employees In Private Medical And Health Services]
Kesatuan Eksekutif Canon Opto (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn.Bhd.
Electrical Industry Workers' Union (EIWU)
Kesatuan Pekerja Pekerja Fujikura Federal Cables Sdn Bhd
Kesatuan Pekerja Pekerja Kelab Semenanjung Malaysia
Kesatuan Eksekutif Airod (KEA)
UNI Global Union-Malaysia
MTUC Pahang
MTUC Penang Division
MTUC Bahagian Melaka
Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Cawangan Pulau Pinang
MTUC Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan


Senator Syed Shahir bin Syed Mohamud - Senator in the Malaysian Parliament, the Immediate Past President of the Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC), and Executive Secretary to the National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers; Charles Hector - human rights defender and lawyer; Mohd Roszeli bin Majid VicePresident (Private Sector) Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC), and also the President of the TNB Junior Officers Union; Pranom Somwong - Workers Hub For Change(WH4C), Asia  Pacific  Forum on Women , Law and Development ( APWLD); Badrulzaman bin Mohd Ghazali -  President, Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja MHS Aviation Berhad(MHSEU)

Monday, April 29, 2013

87 Kumpulan :-RENESAS HARUS SEGERA MENGIKTIRAF UNION DAN MENGEMBALIKAN PEKERJAAN WAN NOORULAZHAR



Kenyataan Media Bersama – 4 April 2013

RENESAS HARUS SEGERA MENGIKTIRAF UNION
DAN MENGEMBALIKAN PEKERJAAN WAN NOORULAZHAR

Kami, 87 pertubuhan masyarakat sivil, kesatuan dan kumpulan  yang bertandatangan di bawah memanggil RENESAS Semiconductor KL Sdn Bhd (sebelum ini dikenali sebagai NEC Semiconductors (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd] untuk menghormati kebebasan berasosiasi dan hak pengiktirafan efektif untuk adakan collective bargaining,  yang merupakan satu hak asasi pekerja yang juga satu daripada nilai asas  International Labour Organisation (ILO)'s. RENESAS mesti berhenti tindakan menghalang atau melewatkan, dan segera memberikan pengiktirafan kepada  Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Barat Semenjung Malaysia(KSIEWBSM)/ Electronic Industry Employees Union Western Region, Peninsular Malaysia (EIEUWR)[UNION]  supaya pekerja di RENESAS boleh akhirnya mula menikmati faedah collective bargaining agreement.  Kini sudah lebih 3 tahun sejak UNION mula menuntut  pengiktirafan RENESAS pada January 2010. 

Di Malaysia, setelah didaftarkan, pengiktirafan majikan diperlukan sebelum UNION dapat mula berunding dan memasuki apa-apa  Collective Bargaining Agreement  dengan syarikat majikan. UNION perlu menghantar tuntutan pengiktirafan, dan dalam masa 21 hari majikan boleh mengiktiraf atau tidak. Jika pengiktirafan tidak diberikan, pihak Director General of Industrial Relations (DGIR) akan mencelah dan memulakan proses ke arah mengadakan undi sulit (secret ballot) untuk mendapat kepastian bahawa sekurang-kurangnya  50 peratus campur 1 jumlah pekerja yang berkelayakan menjadi ahli UNION mahukan kesatuan – lepas itu Union akan diberikan pengiktirafan dan boleh mula merepresentasi pekerja dengan berkesan.  

Walaupun lebih kurang 70% (1,300) pekerja RENESAS yang ada kelayakan menjadi ahli Union sudah menjadi ahli EIEUWR pada masa permohonan pertama untuk pengiktirafan di buat oleh UNION kepada RENESAS, RENESAS tidak member pengiktirafan dan kini selepas 3 tahun, RENESAS masih enggan mengiktiraf union. 

Pada 18/1/2010, UNION menghantarserahkan permohonan pertama(1) untuk pengiktirafan kepada  RENESAS. Respon RENESAS adalah bahawa ada sebuah jawatankuasa protem in-house union lain yang juga meminta pengiktirafan. Director General of Industrial Relations (DGIR) menolak alasan ini. Kemudian RENESAS mendakwa pula bahawa mereka tidak menerima permohonan pengiktirafan, walaupun permohonan pertama ini telah di hantarserah kepada RENESAS oleh Wan Noorulazhar bin Mohd Hanafiah, Presiden UNION, dan RENESAS telah mengesahkan penerimaan. Pihak DGIR akhirnya meminta  UNION untuk hantar lagi permohonan untuk pengiktirafan. 

Tuntutan kedua(2) untuk pengiktirafan telah di hantar pada 17/8/2010, kali ini mengunakan pos berdaftar akuan terima, di mana sekali lagi RENESAS mendakwa tidak menerima permohonan  UNION. Malangnya, UNION juga tidak menerima kembali kad akuan terima dari pihak pos.

Tuntutan ketiga(3) telah dihantar kepada RENESAS pada 8/10/2010, kali ini mengunakan Kourier Nasional Poslaju. Selepas menerima surat UNION, RENESAS  telah secara salah cuba menghantar surat UNION kembali kepada Poslaju dengan permintaan surat dikembalikan kepada UNION. Poslaju telah memberikan surat mengesahkan perkara ini. Kali ini, RENESAS tidak boleh lagi menafikan penerimaan, dan sepatutnya pihak DGIR mula melakukan apa yang perlu untuk tujuan mengadakan undi sulit. Tidak ada apa-apa tindakan di pihak DGIR walaupun UNION berkali-kali menuntut tindakan, dan akhirnya UNION terpaksa berpiket pada 12/8/2011 di hadapan Kementerian Sumber Manusia di Putrajaya. DGIR kemudian memberitahu UNION bahawa document relevan hilang/salah letak, dan Timbalan DGIR dipertanggungjawabkan untuk kesalahan tersebut, di mana beliau sejak itu itu ditukar jawatan. Pihak DGIR kemudian meminta pihak UNION untuk membuat satu lagi permohonan pengiktirafan.

Tuntutan keempat(4) dibuat pada 8/9/2011. RENESAS kali ini membalas dengan mencabar, antara lain, pendaftaran UNION  EIEUWR itu sendiri, dan kelayakkan Setiausaha Agung UNION (General Secretary), iaitu  Bruno Gentil Pereira. Bila Menteri menolak bantahan ini pada 9/4/2012, pada 8/5/2012, RENESAS membuat permohonan kepada Mahkamah Tinggi mencabar keputusan Menteri, di mana Mahkamah Tinggi telah menolak permohonan RENESAS pada 28/6/2012. Selepas itu,  RENESAS, merayu kepada Mahkamah Rayuan, yang juga sebulat suara menolak rayuan RENESAS pada 5/12/2012.
 
Selepas Mahkamah Tinggi menolak permohonan RENESAS pada 28/6/2012, tidak wujud apa-apa perintah Mahmah menghalang pihak DGIR meneruskan dengan proses undi sulit tetapi DGIR tidak berbuat apa-apa.

Selepas banyak protes daripada UNION, DGIR akhirnya pada 14/12/2012 memulakan proses dengan menulis surat kepada RENESAS meminta mereka menghantarserahkan Borang B, sebagaimana diperlukan undang-undang. RENESAS tidak menghantar Borang B, dan surat kedua bertarikh 14/1/2013 telah dihantar oleh DGIR kepada RENESAS. RENESAS tidak melakukan apa yang diperlukan, dan kini pihak DGIR dipercayai sudah menghantar surat ketiga.

Bila akhirnya sampai tarikh undi sulit, pekerja yang berhak mengundi adalah pekerja yang layak pada tarikh tuntutan pengiktirafan dihantarserah, iaitu 8/9/2011 tetapi dengan kehadiran kontrak kerja jangka pendek, ramai pekerja yang sokong UNION pada masa itu sudah tidak lagi berada  di RENESAS, di mana ini akan memprejudis UNION, yang masih perlu menunjukkan  sokongan dengan memperolehi undi sekurang-kurangnya 50% campur satu berdasarkan senarai pekerja layak pada 8/9/2011. Taktik melambatkan proses undi sulit menguntungkan pihak majikan, dan memprejudiskan UNION. 

Wan Noorulazhar, pekerja RENESAS yang juga Presiden UNION lah dibuang kerja pada 26/8/2011 oleh RENESAS di mana kesalahan yang didakwa majikan adalah bahawa beliau telah melakukan tindakan bercanggah dengan polisi khusus syarikat ‘contrary to explicit company policies’. Beliau didakwa membuat kenyataan mengenai cara RENESAS melayan pekerja di dalam sebuah kumpulan Facebook tertutup, di mana ahli kumpulan itu ada rakan pekerja. Salahlaku ini langsung tidak ada kena mengena dengan  work performance. Kes pembuangan kerja secara salah kini di Mahkaman Perusahaan. 

Trend masa kini Mahkamah Perusahaan adalah bila didapati pembuangan kerja secara salah dilakukan adalah untuk tidak memerintahkan pekerja diambil balik sebagai pekerja tetapi mengarahkan majikan membayar pampasan. Jika tidak diambil balik sebagai pekerja di RENESAS, pekerja di RENESAS akan kehilangan pemimpin. RENESAS sebenarnya boleh pada bila-bila masa mengambil kembali Wan Noorulazhar sebagai pekerja tanpa kehilangan faedah.



Pada 14/3/2013, EIUWR bersama pekerja RENESAS telah sekali lagi mengadakan piket protes di Putrajaya.

Kami menuntut RENESAS Semiconductor KL  Sdn  Bhd untuk segera mengiktiraf Electronic Industry Employees Union Western Region (EIEUWR), dan segera mengambil balik sebagai pekerja  Wan Noorulazhar bin Mohd Hanafiah dan mana-mana pemimpin pekerja yang telah dibuang kerja.

Senator Syed Shahir bin Syed Mohamud
Charles Hector
Mohd Roszeli bin Majid
Pranom Somwong
Badrulzaman bin Mohd Ghazali

Bagi pihak 87 organisasi di bawah,

ALIRAN
Andhra Pradesh State Domestic Workers' Union, India
Asia Monitor Resource Centre(AMRC)
Asia  Pacific  Forum on Women , Law and Development ( APWLD)
Asia Floor Wage Alliance- SEA Office
Building and Wood Workers International Asia Pacific Regional Office (BWI APRO)
Center for Migrant Advocacy ,Philippines
Centre for Human Rights and Development (CHRD) Sri Lanka
Center for Orang  Asli Concerns (COAC)
CIMS- Centre for Indian Migrant Studies

Clean Clothes Campaign
Committee for Asian Women, Bangkok
Community Action Network (CAN), Malaysia
Confederation of Free Trade Unions of India
Dignity International
GoodElectronics
GoodElectronics Thailand (GET)
Hope Workers' Center, Taiwan
Hsinchu Catholic Diocese Migrants and Immigrants Service Center (HMISC), Taiwan
Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com

IDWN( International  Domestic Workers’  Network)
IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh
International Campaign for Responsible Technology, US
International League of Peoples' Struggle – Canada
Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW), Cambodia
LIPS (Lembaga Informasi Perburuhan Sedane/Sedane Labour Resource Centre) Indonesia
MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)
Malaysian Physicians for Social Responsibility
MAP Foundation, Thailand
Maquiladora Health & Safety Support Network, Berkeley, CA  USA

Migrant Care
Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA)
Migrant Forum India (MF India)
Migrant Forum Lanka (MFL)
Migrants Rights Council India
Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)
NAMM (Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia)
NDWM -  National Domestic Workers' Movement, India
NLD-LA (National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas), Malaysia
Pakistan Rural Workers Social Welfare Organization (PRWSWO)

Parti Rakyat Malaysia(PRM)
People & Planet, UK
Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)
PINAY Quebec
Progressive Labor Union of Domestic Workers- Hong Kong
PSWS (Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor)
Pusat KOMAS (KOMAS)
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), Bangladesh
SALT (School of Acting Justly Loving Tenderly and Walking Humbly)
SBMI (Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia)

Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW), Philippines
State Enterprises Workers' Relations Confederation (SERC), Thailand
State Railway Workers' Union of Thailand (SRU), Thailand
SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia)
Tenaganita, Malaysia
The Alliance of Progressive Labor - Hong Kong
Tourism Employees Association of Maldives
Women's Rehabilitation Center (WOREC) Nepal
Workers Assistance Center, Inc, Philippines
Workers Hub For Change (WH4C)

Women Workers Lead
Writer Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)
Youth For Peace/Peace Institute of Cambodia (YFP/PIC)

Malaysian Unions
Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Timur Semenanjung Malaysia (KSIEWTSM)
Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan Semenanjung Malaysia
Kesatuan Sekerja Pekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Utara
Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja MHS Aviation Berhad
Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Polyplastics Asia Pacific
Paper & Paper Products Manufacturing Employees' Union Of Malaysia (PPPMEU)
TNBJOU (TNB Junior Officers Union), Malaysia
Malayan Technical Services Union (MTSU)
NUBE (National Union of Banking Employees), Malaysia
Association of Maybank Executive
Kesatuan Kebangsaan Pekerja Pekerja Perusahaan Alat Alat Pengangkutan Dan Sekutu(NUTEAIW)
Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Dalam Perkhidmatan Perubatan Dan Kesihatan Swasta-[Union Of Employees In Private Medical And Health Services]
Kesatuan Eksekutif Canon Opto (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn.Bhd.
Electrical Industry Workers' Union (EIWU)
Kesatuan Pekerja Pekerja Fujikura Federal Cables Sdn Bhd
Kesatuan Pekerja Pekerja Kelab Semenanjung Malaysia
Kesatuan Eksekutif Airod (KEA)
UNI Global Union-Malaysia
MTUC Pahang
MTUC Penang Division
MTUC Bahagian Melaka
Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Cawangan Pulau Pinang
MTUC Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan

Senator Syed Shahir bin Syed Mohamud - Senator in the Malaysian Parliament, the Immediate Past President of the Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC), and Executive Secretary to the National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers; Charles Hector - human rights defender and lawyer; Mohd Roszeli bin Majid VicePresident (Private Sector) Malaysian Trade Union Congress(MTUC), and also the President of the TNB Junior Officers Union; Pranom Somwong - Workers Hub For Change(WH4C), Asia  Pacific  Forum on Women , Law and Development ( APWLD); Badrulzaman bin Mohd Ghazali -  President, Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja MHS Aviation Berhad(MHSEU)

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Focus not on 'who candidate' - but the real issues and concerns if BN is allowed to continue to govern

Well, too much space and time is spend on who is the candidate, who has been dropped, etc but really this is the time we have to review the reasons why we need to change and give the opportunity to the Opposition parties to govern the country (or keep BN still?)

2013 is different because we know that the Opposition parties also have the capacity to govern Malaysia - proven by their ability to govern Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan. In fact, their 5 years of governance of these States, especially Penang and Selangor seem to have been more efficient, less mis-management, less corruption, etc - even more pro-rakyat.

MANIFESTOS - well, one should really not be concerned about the BN Manifesto as they have been ruling since independence - They should not be promising things they will do after the next General Elections - they should have already done it long before...

JANJI DITEPATI (PROMISES KEPT) - that seen to be the BN's slogan but honestly a lot of Malaysians are wondering what really were these promises that the BN made? 

For workers in Malaysia, they were promised minimum wages by PM Najib and BN - a promise that was gazetted in an Order on 16/7/2012 promising workers that earned basic wages less than RM900 (RM800 in Sabah and Sarawak), that they will finally get minimum wages starting January 2013. 

BUT promises were broken(Janji Tidak DiTepati) when suddenly on 28/12/2013, another Order came out exempting over 600 employers from the obligation of paying their workers minimum wages in January 2013 - Janji Tidak DiTepati for the affected workers...

Then in January, many find that their basic wages may have increased BUT their allowances, benefits, bonuses, etc seem to have disappeared, Some employers also allegedly increased normal working hours of 44 hours per week to 48 hours per week. In most cases, all this was done without the consent/approval of workers - and worse is that this Prime Minister and the BN government just did not come to the defence of these workers - to date, I have not seen any employer being persecuted. Employment contracts cannot be changed by employers without the consent of workers. - 

Then, we hear of many compalints from workers that they did not receive minimum wages...again Janji Tidak DiTepati.

Over the years, worker rights have been eroded - shocking that today, this BN government allows some employers to compel their workers to work for more than 8 hours per day (or 48 hours per week) - Some workers end up working 11-12 hours per day 7 days a week, even on rest days and public holidays. {The BN government amended the Employment Act removing the limit of 48 hours of work per week in 1998...and now, there is no limit.) This is clear indication that WORKERS welfare and rights is not a priority of the BN, and they have been guilty of allowing employers to 'exploit' workers...

Now, even the right to say 'No' to overtime and work on rest days/public holidays is gone. 

Workers say that when they do not want to do overtime, the employer insist that they find a replacement....

Same case with annual leave...employer says OK provided you find a replacement for your shift...

The right of workers - now becomes 'discretion of employer' - no more RIGHTS...

CIVIL SERVANTS - BN calls you 'government servants' to try to make you believe that you are working for the government - the BN government - so, you MUST vote for BN. This is not true - you are public servants working for Malaysians - not any political party

CIVIL SERVANTS - well, now they are pampered with wage increases, bonuses - but TOMMORROW, you may be thrown out - losing all benefits and privileges - Remember the former 'government servants' - now in KTMB, Pos Malaysia, TNB, TM,..... and this BN government is for privatising everything --- so what else will be privatized if they remain in power. Even in a lot of 'government establishments' - work is being outsourced to privat sector.... 

A lot more to consider....and maybe time is here for a CHANGE - let maybe the Opposition govern Malaysia for a term - and if they do well, maybe another term - if not, we can always bring back BN... 

Thursday, April 11, 2013

TUNTUTAN PEKERJA MALAYSIA



TUNTUTAN PEKERJA MALAYSIA

PEKERJAAN TETAP SAMPAI BERSARA – Mansuhkan sistem kerja kontrak jangka pendek. 

PERHUBUNGAN KERJA DENGAN MAJIKAN TEMPAT KERJA – Hapuskan system Kontraktor for Labour. Semua pekerja bekalan pihak ketiga harus dijadikan pekerja(employee) majikan tempat kerja.

GAJI MINIMA UNTUK SEMUA – Gaji Pokok/Asas pekerja harus ditambahkan supaya tak kurang daripada Gaji Minima Semasa. Elaun dan faedah pekerjaan yang sudah dinikmati pekerja sebelum kenaikan gaji pokok harus terus dinikmati pekerja.

HAK MENDAPAT KERJA KEMBALI DIJAMIN JIKA DIDAPATI MAJIKAN BUANG KERJA SECARA SALAH Jika pekerja tidak mahu terus kerja dengan majikan, harus dipampas sepenuhnya gaji dan faedah pekerja itu akan dapat dari tarikh pembuangan kerja sehingga tarikh didapati/dihakimi bahawa pembuangan kerja secara salah, serta faedah yang dikira pada kadar 8 peratus setahun kiraan harian. Mansuhkan Jadual 2 Akta Perhubungan Perusahaan 1967(Industrial Relations Act 1967).

SALAH LAKU (MISCONDUCT) KERJA DIHADKAN KEPADA PRESTASI DITEMPAT PEKERJAAN dan tidak mengugat kebebasan bersuara dan berpendapat, kebebasan protes secara aman dan kebebasan pekerja dan kesatuan berbincang, meluangkan pendapat dan mendedahkan ketidakadilan dan pencabulan hak pekerja atau hak asasi termasuk yang didakwa dilakukan majikan.

HAK TERUS RUJUK KES PEMBUANGAN KERJA KE MAHKAMAH PERUSAHAAN JIKA USAHA PENYELESAIAN DI PEJABAT PERHUBUNGAN PERUSAHAAN GAGAL – Keperluan mendapatkan kebenaran atau keputusan Menteri sebelum kes pembuangan kerja dirujuk ke Mahkamah Perusahaan dimansuhkan.

WUJUDKAN MAHKAMAH PERUSAHAAN DI SEMUA NEGERI DAN BANDAR supaya pekerja senang menuntut dan mendapatkan keadilan.

Ada banyak lagi tuntutan pekerja tetapi ini adalah apa yang dianggap paling penting. Bagaimana dengan umur persaraan?  Kalau pekerja tidak ada kerja tetap, apa gunanya umur persaraan? Cuti bersalin - jika pekerja di ambil kerja melalui kontrak kerja jangka pendek, adakah mana-mana perempuan yang mengandung akan diambil sebagai pekerja - buat apa majikan berbuat demikian? Nasib dan masa depan pekerja semakin lama semakin tergugat kerana kerajaan tidak memastikan hak pekerja dijaga - khususnya hak kerja tetap sehingga bersara, di mana perhubungan pekerjaan adalah dengan tempat kerja bukan pihak ketiga/contractor for labour...Kerajaan ini yang membenarkan semua ini....Keluarga mana mahu anak kahwin seorang kerja kontrak jangka pendek ...atau seorang pekerja 'outsourcing'... Bank mana nak beri pinjaman kepada orang yang kerja kontrak jangka pendek ...habis kontrak masa depan tak tahu macam mana...



Senator Syed Shahir : Malaysia Must Keep Its Promise To Workers Made In July 2012 - Stop Discriminating Workers, Including Migrant Workers 


"...semua pekerja, termasuk pekerja migrant, berhak menerima giji minima, di mana ini adalah gaji pokok dan tidak harus termasuk elaun, faedah dan insentif kerja  yang lain. Majikan tidak harus dibenarkan mengeluarkan apa-apa hak dan faedah yang wujud sebelum April 2012, iaitu tarikh Perintah Gaji Minima 2012 berkuatkuasa, daripada kontrak pekerjaan sedia ada dan yang akan datang.... mansuhkan segala bentuk diskriminasi terhadap pekerja, termasuk diskriminasi berasaskan kewarganegaraan, jantina dan tempuh perjanjian kerja mereka...." - 82 - GAJI MINIMA UNTUK SEMUA TERMASUK PEKERJA MIGRAN - Tidak harus berlaku pemotongan gaji pekerja untuk majikan menebus bayaran levi –
"... Kami memanggil untuk pemansuhan ‘contractor for labour’ dan semua kegiatan mereka, dan untuk semua pekerja yang kini telah dibekalan oleh pihak ketiga, iaitu pembekal tenagakerja/pekerja (‘contractor for labour’) yang masih bukan pekerja-employee prinsipal segera dijadikan pekerja-employee prinsipal tersebut dan diberikan faedah dan layanan sama sapertimana diberikan kepada pekerja-employee prinsipal yang lain tanpa diskriminasi, termasuk juga hak menubuhkan/menyertai kesatuan sekerja, dan hak mendapat semua hak dan faedah yang kini di dalam Perjanjian Koletif terpakai.
Kami juga menuntut untuk pemansuhan pekerjaan tidak menentu (precarious employment), dan untuk dikelakan hubungan kerja dua pihak yang adil di antara prinsipal dan pekerja-employee, dan untuk menghormati hak pekerja dan hak kesatuan sekerja..." -93 - Mansuhkan Sistem ‘Contractor for Labour’ Tarikbalik pindaan 2012 kepada Akta Kerja 1955.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

BN privatizing this and that - avoidance of accountability and transparency - Pro-Rakyat?

One problem with the Barisan Nasional rule, was the appalling lack of accountability and transparency. Agreements were entered into by the Malaysian Government with private persons and entities, but alas Malaysians were not able to have sight of these agreements
The responsibility of providing basic amenities were privatised - like water supply, sewage treatment, electricity, telecommunication, road building and toll, postal services, railways, parts of healthcare (Institute Jantung Negara) etc - but alas Malaysians do not even have sight of these agreements. 

One wonders whether pre-existing facilities, built with public funds, have been leased out or just merely handed over en-bloc to these private entities, whereby the later would not be right. 

Road repair has also been privatised - no more speedily done by JKR - and this elections, we find that many roads are with pot-holes and in a state of poor maintenance even in constituencies where the MP is from Barisan Nasional.

Railway lines, for example, is about the same as in the 60s and 70s - We still do not even have a railway line linking Kota Bharu to Kuala Trengganu to Kuantan travelling all the way to Johor Bahru. People from the East Coast still have to go to Gemas and turn around to get to Kuala Lumpur - and this is a shocking failure of the BN Government - and even the last budget is more interested in Kuala Lumpur. What about the rest of Malaysia - don't we also deserve better.

Rates increase, including toll rates and other basic amenity rates, but this BN government very easily avoids blame since these have been privatised and the government has on behalf of the people struggled to keep it low...The fact is that the problem was created by the government in the first place.

Worse still, is the rise in the number of millionaires and rich - many of whom are related to some of these BN politicians - No. 20 Mokhzani Mahathir - $285 million (Kencana, authorized Porsche importer son of former permier Mahathir), No. 40 Nazir Razak - $100 million (Bumiputra Commerce Holdings, brother of PM Najib Razak, son of 2nd PM Tun Abdul Razak) 

One wonders whether for BN, having political power is not so much about service to the people - but enrichment of self, family, cronies and friends.

Malaysia recently had a foreign worker registration exercise called the 6P program, something that rightfully should have been done by the government and civil servants - and when we asked for accounts in Parliament - i.e. how mush was spent and how much was earned, there was no accounts provided - Why? Because that too was done by a Private Funding Initiative (PFI) - but surely there would be monies collected for migrants were required to make payments, and there should have been also LEVY payments by employers of the newly 'legalized' migrant workers. From the answer given, it seems that even what was die to be paid to the Malaysian government coffers ended up in the pocket of some 'private person or entity'. What about the time and effort of civil servants - for their salary and overtime came from Malaysians. There should have been accounts - how much was spent, how much was earned.... but this BN government just do not believe in accountability and transparency. In fact, I never saw any announcement before that this whole exercise was to be done by a Private Funding Initiative (PFI)- this comes to light only when a MP asks a question.
The question was about how much was spend and how much did the government earn - and the answer was not given - just that it was a Private Funding Initiative(PFI). So who decided, which migrant worker would be legalized and which would not? Some private person or entity? Surely, this is the role and duty of the government...
Where is that law that allow government functions to be privatised? Were they not 'authorised government agents' - of that too was left to some private person or company? Again, where is the law that allows for this? 
PEMBERITAHUAN PERTANYAAN DEWAN RAKYAT
PERTANYAAN       :         LISAN
DARIPADA            :        YB PUAN TERESA KOK SUH SIM (SEPUTEH)
TARIKH                :         3 APRIL 2012

SOALAN :
YB. PUAN TERESA KOK SUH SIM (SEPUTEH) minta MENTERI DALAM NEGERI menyatakan jumlah perbelanjaaan dan jumlah pendapatan yang terlibat dalam projek 6P pada tahun 2011. Apakah langkah yang akan diambil oleh Kementerian untuk mengatasi masalah kekurangan pekerja dalam industri perkhidmatan dan pembuatan di Malaysia.

JAWAPAN :
Terima kasih saya ucapan kepada Ahli Yang Berhormat Seputeh yang mengemukakan pertanyaan.
Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, Program 6P dilaksanakan dengan tujuan untuk mewujudkan satu pangkalan data dan rekod biometric warga asing di Negara ini.

Program 6P dilaksanakan melalui kaedah Private Funding Initiative (PFI), oleh itu Kerajaan tidak menanggung kos operasi badi perlaksanaan program tersebut.

Di antara impak positif perlaksanaan Program 6P adalah seperti berikut:
  1. berupaya mengumpul data berhubung jumlah PATI yang berada di dalam Negara;
  2. membantu memantapkan pemantauan dan penguatkuasaan terhadap wangsa asing melalui pengambilan data biometric, sekali gus meningkatkan kawalan keselamatan negara;
  3. membantu menangani isu pemalsuan identity dan dokumen perjalanan melalui pendaftran data biometric cap jari yang tidak boleh dipalsukan;
  4. memenuhi segera keperluan pekerja asing sector-sektor ekonomi melalui process pemutihan PATI tanpa perlu membawa masuk pekerja asing baru; dan
  5. menangani isu ketirisan dalam pengutipan levi pekerja asing dan sekali gus meningkatkan hasil pendapatan Negara.
Program 6P adalah sebahagian daripada usaha penting dalan agenda Kerajaan untuk memantapkan pengurusan warga asing di Negara ini, sekali gus membantu menangani jenayah rentas sempadan khususnya jenayah pemerdagangan orang dan penyeludupan manusia.

Tuan Yang Di-pertua,

Kerajaan telah mengambil beberapa langkah untuk mengatasi masalah kekurangan pekerja dalam industry perkhidmatan dan pembuatan di Malaysia. Selaras dengan Program 6P ini juga Kerajaan telah menangguhkan pengambilan pekerja asing dari luar. Walaubagaimanapun, pihak Kerajaan memberi peluang kepada majikan dan industry untuk mendapatkan pekerja asing melalui Process Pendaftaran dan Pemutihan yang sedang dilaksanakan.

Bagi tujuan ini, pihak Kerajaan telah melonggarkan beberapa syarat dan peraturan di bawah Program 6P ang melibatkan perkara-perkara berikut:
1)    Membuka semula subsektor-subsektor di bawah sektor perkhidmatan yang dibekukan;
2)    Membenarkan sektor di luar dasar sedia ada mendapatkan pekerja asing melalui program pemutihan yang dijalankan; dan
3)    Melonggarkan syarat-syarat dan peraturan yang ditetapkan oleh Agensi Kawal Sedia untuk kelulusan pengambilan pekerja asing melalui proses Pemutihan yang dijalankan.

Langkah-langkah yang diambil ini adalah bagi memastikan majikan tidak menghadapi masalah kekurangan tenaga pekerja asing dan seterusnya manjamin kelancaran operasi di sector masing-masing.

Source: Teresa Kok's Blog

Now, on 10/1/2013 the Government of Malaysia clearly stated that the 6P Migrant Registration & Amnesty program, which began in October 2012  was ended today(10/1/2013) - and there will be no extension.

Tempoh 6P tidak akan dilanjutkan

PUTRAJAYA 10 Jan. – Kerajaan tidak akan melanjutkan tempoh pendaftaran dan pengampunan di bawah Program Penyelesaian Menyeluruh Pekerja dan Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (6P) yang berakhir hari ini.

Bagaimanapun, Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN), Tan Sri Mahmood Adam berkata, secara pentadbiran proses permohonan pemutihan akan diteruskan bagi Pekerja Asing Tanpa izin (PATI) yang telah berdaftar sepanjang tempoh 1 hingga 31 Ogos tahun lalu.

Jelasnya, pertimbangan itu dibuat di atas rayuan para majikan bagi melengkapkan proses pemutihan, pengeluaran dokumen yang berkaitan dan temuduga dengan agensi kawal selia.

“Oleh itu, bagi majikan yang masih belum berbuat demikian adalah dinasihatkan untuk berurusan segera sama ada di Pusat Sehenti (OSC) di Putrajaya iaitu Ibu Pejabat Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia; Ibu Pejabat Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara Malaysia atau Pejabat Pengeluar Pasport Presint 15.

“Selain, Kompleks KDN Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, Pejabat Imigresen Pelabuhan Klang, Selangor, Kompleks KDN Johor Bahru, Johor, Kompleks KDN Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang dan Kompleks KDN Kuantan, Pahang,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini, hari ini.

Tempoh program 6P bermula Oktober tahun lalu.

Sementara itu, Mahmood berkata, sehingga hari ini sejumlah 323,093 PATI membabitkan 21,965 majikan telah diputihkan dan diampunkan.- Utusan Online, 11/1/2013, Tempoh 6P tidak akan dilanjutkan

BUT then, there was this document addressed to undocumented migrants to come for a Briefing and Registration on 26/1/2013 - telling them that they will get copies of personal identification papers that will keep them safe from action by local authorities...

One such questionable invite to get 'legalized', which I managed to get hold is as follows - the forms the migrants who attended were asked to fill up apparently all apparently looked very official as though from the Immigration Department but I wonder - for this happens after the 6P program had ended



Oh...would the answer be that this was after all nothing to do by the Government - it was after all Private Funding Initiative (PFI) - and they can do as they please? 

Paradiselinx Sdn Bhd decided to extend the 6P, and did this with the KDN(Ministry of Home Affairs) and the Immigration Department - was this the case?

Under the Barisan Nasional - more and more are being privatized, even functions that rightfully should be done by government and the civil service. The fact that it has been privatized or is a 'Private Funding Initiative (PFI)', there is yet another reason to avoid accountability and transparency

If BN continues to rule - more and more will be handed over to the Private Sector- and there willl less and less transparency and accountability...

What is happening to the monies of Malaysians and Malaysia? What is happening to our Malaysian people's government? We just do not know what is happening to this country... TIME for a change of government?