
Bank Negara should be commended for raising the problems associated with a “race to the bottom” in labour costs in its 2017 Annual Report, said the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).
Clearly, Malaysia has been experiencing this problem for some decades now, with pro-employer policies, an unregulated supply of foreign workers, and a diminution of workers’ rights contributing to the current state of sad affairs.
The forces of demand and supply have been distorted unfairly to the disadvantage of Malaysian workers. As a result, Malaysian workers have been suffering through a reduction in real income levels, and many workers and their families have been forced into poverty.
The government should take a serious view of the findings in the Bank Negara report. What is needed is a root-and-branch analysis of the problems facing Malaysian workers and this should be undertaken immediately. The Bank Negara report should be used as the starting reference point.
Even in industries where there are few or no foreign workers, wage levels have suffered and been distorted from reality due to the oversupply of labour in the aggregate. Malaysians are being punished, and in particular the lower-income group, due to the “race to the bottom” in labour costs.
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MTUC will pursue this matter to ensure that Malaysian workers are treated fairly.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), the Malaysian Employees Federation and similar other bodies have largely contributed to this in my view. Instead of investing in local workers n upgrading skills, they prefer to hire cheap labour so they don’t have to pay higher wages to locals. Most SMEs and small companies appear to invest little in upgrading technology n skills training so the local workforce loses out.
Orang tengah agent pekerja asing ni selalunya proxy UMNO, pungut wang perlindungan untuk parti, sekarang akaun bank dah kena beku baru tahu langit tinggi ke rendah.