The Parti Sosialis Malaysia today rejected the minimum monthly wage deal agreed for plantation workers, saying that the o­nly way to enhance the livelihood of the workers would be by giving them houses and land.

For this to happen, the plantation industry in the country should be shut down, said PSM pro tem secretary-general S Arutchelvan in a statement.

"It is time for this twilight industry to wrap up and give free houses and land to its workers so that they can take care of themselves," he added.

Arutchelvan was referring to a historic deal signed between National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) and the Malaysian Agricultural Producers Association (Mapa) o­n Tuesday which came after a 40-year struggle for a better salary scheme for the workers.

Under the deal, backdated from Jan 1 this year to 2005, about 58,000 plantation workers will be assured of a minimum take-home salary of RM350 per month if their earning for the month falls below the figure. The new deal also provides an increase of other benefits, such as housing and shift allowance.

Alternatives

Arutchelvan said the minimum agreed upon was a disgrace as it was in total contradiction to the views and recommendations made by other groups looking out for the welfare of plantation workers.

For example, Arutchelvan said, trade union umbrella body Malaysian Trades Union Congress has been calling for a minimum wage of RM1,200 per month and the Plantation Workers Support Committee since 1996 has been asking for a minimum of RM750 per month.

"MIC has called for a fixed monthly salary of between RM900 and RM1,000 per month while the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia recommended RM750 per month," said Arutchelvan.

"So where does RM350 stand? ...it is even lower than the national poverty line for a household in Malaysia, which is RM1,200 per household," he noted with disappointment.

Aruthchelvan also pointed out that when a similar minimum wage deal for the palm oil harvesters was agreed in February 2001, the initial government reaction was that the deal would improve the living standard of the harvesters.

"But as we see now, it is proven that the harvesters are very unhappy with the collective agreement. Their living standard has remained stagnant."

Robbing the labourer

Arutchelvan also took a dig at the major plantation companies who continued to reap healthy profits.

"This is enough evidence that the workers who toiled for the nation have been robbed of their labour."

He blamed the government for its role in crippling the plantation workers union through its anti-labour legislation and use of foreign labour to perpetuate plantation companies' cheap labour policy.

Another organisation, the newly formed Indian Consultative Council also expressed its disappointment over the deal.

Wage structure

ICC advisor Prof P Ramasamy said the minimum wage does not take into consideration the inflation level as well as the minimal level of income necessary to satisfy the basic subsistence needs of workers.

"What plantation workers badly need is a proper wage structure that would reflect their long years of contribution," said Ramasamy in a statement today.

"However, unfortunately, since time of political independence and until today, plantation employers have been the main stumbling block to the provision of a decent wage structure for workers."

Similar objections to the minimum wage deal were expressed by the Plantation Workers Support Committee o­n Wednesday.

The committee called the deal a "rip-off that will further push the workers into poverty".

However, a rosy picture of the deal was painted by MIC president S Samy Vellu, whom The Star quoted today as saying that it would bring out a change in the estate community and lead to better pay for the workers.