By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, March 26: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak has called on the leaders of the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) to look beyond self interest and follow the footsteps of several companies in providing workers their pay during the movement control order (MCO) period.
MTUC Sarawak secretary Andrew Lo suggested that employers discuss with their employees in a sincere manner to work out practical arrangements to face these challenging times.
“We believe that most employees, whose employers have been good to them would volunteer to take annual leave or unpaid leave if there are assured of their jobs.
“Good employers will also most willingly reimburse employees once things turn for the better.
“The fact that MEF has to resort to threats, would indicate that they are not confident that their member companies are good employers,” Lo said in a statement.
Lo observed that the MEF has a long history of consistently prioritising profits over anything else.
He noted their concerns about cost and profits at a time when the nation is facing its most serious crisis is disappointing.
Hence, Lo said MTUC Sarawak is appealing to the leadership of MEF and its member companies to look into the situation faced by the low income workers and their welfare rather than prioritising profits and self-interest. —DayakDaily
