Workers in the country are reminded not to be overzealous and bet with borrowed money during the World Cup soccer which kicks off today in South Africa.

Both the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Service (Cuepacs), with a total membership of 1.7 million, have advised their members not to fall prey to loan sharks.

MTUC secretary-general G Rajasegaran said past experience had found that some workers became victims of loan shark and were declared bankrupt as they could not pay back.

Some even lost their jobs because they could not stand loan sharks harassing them, he added.

There were also cases of victims who had to surrender their ATM cards to the loan sharks as collateral and later found that their monthly salaries were siphoned off.

"All these can demoralise the workers and affect productivity and we do not want such things to happen this time round," he added.

He advised the workers to give priority to their work and leave the football viewing to their free time.

Rajasegaran also urged private doctors to be wary of workers seeking medical leave during the period.

Cuepacs general-secretary Ahmad Shah Mohd Zin said some departments had received flyers offering easy loans.

He urged heads of department to keep close tabs on employees who might be influenced by such gimmicks.

Ahmad Shah warned civil servants that Cuepacs would not bail them out if they got involved with loan sharks nor assist those who absented themselves from work due to lack of sleep from watching late matches.

Such absentees should be dealt with sternly according to the General Orders, he said.

- Bernama