The National Union of Bank Employees (Nube), the sole union representing the commercial banks’ clerical and non-clerical

staff in peninsular Malaysia, is demanding an 80-month bonus arrears for the last 10 years for its 5,000 members in Maybank.

Union secretary-general J Solomon said the demand was based on the premise that similar bonuses were paid by the bank to its executive staff over the last 10 years.

maybank malaysia bank 121108 While Nube was proud that Malaysian corporations were doing well, however recognition and rewards should be equal for all categories of workers, he told Bernama today.

“For the first quarter of this year, Maybank’s profits had surpassed the RM1 billion mark, and Nube members also contributed to this and as such, should be duly rewarded,” he said.

On Oct 14, the union had written a letter to the bank with the demand, but had yet to receive a reply, he added.

“This clearly exhibits the disrespect shown by a government-linked company towards its own workers who are Malaysian citizens,” said Solomon.

“In fact, this runs contrary to the aspirations of 1Malaysia and the New Economic Model which are aimed at creating a high income society.

"However, this has to benefit all Malaysians and not a minority who hijack the prosperity worked for and created by all Malaysians," he said.

Maybank: Colllective agreement defines remuneration

Maybank, in response to Nube’s demands, said issues of annual remuneration related to all clerical and non-clerical employees of the bank were governed by a collective agreement (CA) between the Malaysian Commercial Banks Association (MCBA) and Nube.

The CA was achieved through Nube and clearly defined the agreed remuneration, including contractual bonuses for all members, it said.

Maybank said it had always been in full compliance with the CA and this year it even exceeded the expected bonus payout by rewarding all employees, including Nube members, an additional cash bonus via an ex-gratia payment of RM1,000 to each employee over and above stipulated contractual or performance based bonuses.

Maybank said that MCBA had in past negotiations on the CA proposed to Nube a performance-related bonus scheme for Nube members.

However, it said Nube subsequently opted instead for the contractual bonus scheme as part of the CA.

Maybank said that it adopted a fair remuneration and rewards policy based on performance and merit aligned to best practice and above industry average.

As such, staff on performance-based bonuses in Maybank therefore received rewards reflecting their individual performance level and that of the bank, it said.

- Bernama