KUCHING, July 29: Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) plans to set up a body to assist mistreated local workers, particularly those in the plantation and industrial sectors, and help the unemployed find jobs.
Its president, Munan Laja, claimed many local workers had not been paid wages or their wages were below the minimum guideline. Then there are cases of dismissal without proper reasons and other issues that flouted labour laws.
“We, in SWP, will visit the Labour Department soon. We need to know what can be done for these workers, learn the law and various aspects of the constitution in the human resources industry,” Munan said in a statement.
He added that his party wanted to help unemployed locals find jobs too.
“It is sad to see so many foreigners being employed in the state when our own people are jobless. There must be a solution to this,” he said.
Meanwhile, SWP also urged the federal government to review the minimum wage that was approved in 2012. Under this arrangement, those in the peninsular get a minimum wage of RM1,000 per month, while those in East Malaysia get RM920 per month.
“The last review was done seven years ago. This amount is no longer appropriate and feasible as the cost of living has increased dramatically.
“SWP proposes a minimum wage of RM1,200 for East Malaysians and RM1,500 for those in the peninsula.”
However, Munan believed the government would raise the minimum wage on a gradual basis as a drastic hike in wages might result in more unemployment.
Munan, meanwhile, also urged the government to eradicate corruption as it could both lower the cost of living and in doing business. — DayakDaily
