The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) wants the salaries of lower rank employees in the private sector to be revised as well.

MTUC Sarawak secretary Andrew Lo said although top executives and senior managers in the private sector were better paid than government employees, the situation is not the same for those in the lower ranks.

"They (lower rank employees) do not even get any living allowance," he was quoted as saying by the Star today.

As an example, Lo said the Sarawak Timber Association confirmed that there were timber workers who earned RM12 a day, which was below the state's poverty level.

Lo also welcomed the government's announcement of a salary increment for civil servants.

He said this would motivate them to increase their productivity and improve the government's delivery system.

Be prudent

Meanwhile, civil servants, who will enjoy the pay rise effective July 1, have been advised to be prudent in their spending and, if possible, save the extra income.

According to Bernama , Chief Secretary to the Government Sidek Hassan said though the government has been educating civil servants on judicious financial spending, it was up to individuals not to go overboard in their spending.

"I've said this many times, in life it is not how much you earn, it is how much you save," he told a press conference.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced a pay rise of between 7.5 percent and 42 percent for civil servants, the police and the armed forces.

A total of 557,033 pensioners will also enjoy the new increments based on their last drawn salaries.

Meanwhile, Sidek said: "If you give a 100 percent pay rise but you finish it immediately, it is no use...so you must save. The government has been very kind to us, so spend the money wisely, in whatever you do, be wise about it".

He said if a civil servant has been living on RM1,000 a month and now gets an extra income of RM350 from the salary increase, the additional income should be saved.

"Don't go and finish the whole RM1,350. Save the extra through the various saving schemes like Amanah Saham (unit trust)...save for the education of your children. Be responsible not only when there is a pay rise but also at all times," he added.