Several non-governmental organisations have planned a Workers' Day march from the KTMB Bhd headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to Bukit Bintang on May 1, to highlight workers rights. 

Its organiser and coordinator E Nalini said the theme for the march is "Hilang kerja, pekerja merana (workers suffers following retrenchment): Workers retrenchment scheme now", and aims to pressure the government to form a retrenchment scheme to provide security for workers who lose their jobs. 

She questioned why the tabling of the Workers Insurance Scheme, first mooted in 2009, was postponed again, although Deputy Human Resources Minister Ismail Abdul Muttalib had in November last year assured it would be tabled in Parliament in last March's sitting. 

"The insurance scheme is an important safety net to ensure workers do not sink into poverty as a result of the winding down of a company or downsizing. Realising the importance of the issue, the organisers are putting the demand of having the retrenchment fund, at the forefront of the Workers' Day celebration," she said. 

Besides that, Nalini also called for women workers' rights, an end to all workplace discrimination and harassment and a minimum wage of RM1,500.

The group is also pushing for migrant workers' rights, recognition of the rights of the indigenous community and Orang Asli, as well as other matters, such as free and fair elections, the abolishment of the Prevention of Crime Act 1959, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, the Sedition Act 1948 and other repressive laws.

Nalini said they have already notified the police about the gathering. 

Among the NGOs participating on the event are Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas, Suaram, Sisters in Islam, Free Education Movement, Women's Aid Organisation, Sisters for Justice and Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

Meanwhile, PSM former secretary-general S Arutchelvan said the gathering would see the participation of various members of the society, workers and those who have been discriminated.

“We have sent our application to the Dang Wangi police station and today they asked for a meeting with them... we do not expect any problems.

“If you ask why we chose KTM, it is because many of them had to be laid off following privatisation. This is despite the privatisation being done in stages.

"So we will march in an orderly manner from KTM to Bukit Bintang. Following that, there will be a declaration made at the final venue of the march in Bukit Bintang,” he added.