Two opposition leaders claimed that the majority of workers in this country have lost their trust in trade unions because most of its leaders are more interested in personal gain, rather that looking after the interests of their members.

In a joint Labour Day message, Keadilan president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali, said their main concern was to continue enjoying certain privileges as union leaders.

These type of union leaders were easily exploited by their employers and the authorities concern to their advantage, they added.

They also pointed out that laws inherited from the colonial power continued to be tightened and enforced in this country at the expense of the trade unions.

Wasting public funds

Reflecting o­n the current economic situation, the leaders said, the number of workers retrenched or becoming jobless in the construction, electronic and hotel industry continues to increase.

They also accused the government of wasting public money to implement economically unsound grandiose projects, rather than providing facilities for the betterment of the workers.

"Obviously what the labour groups need are unions and leaders truly committed to defend their rights," they added.

Meanwhile, acting PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang hoped that the war in Iraq and the Sars cases should not be used as an excuse to retrench workers.

"On the other hand, workers must also strive to increase their productivity in the present challenging economic environment," he said in a statement.

He also expressed concern over the increase in the unemployment rate.

"The government must formulate a basic plan to implement integrated approach to handle the current socio-economic situation," said Hadi who is also the Opposition leader.

Fair wage demand

Meanwhile DAP national chairman, Lim Kit Siang said over a thousand estate workers and their representatives thronged Parliament House before the May Day in 1999, to present their legitimate demands for a fair and just minimum monthly wage and better housing.

On the very same day, he said, the then DAP MP for Teluk Intan M Kula Segaran sought unsuccessfully to adjourn Parliament to debate the plight of over 300,000 estate workers in a motion of urgent, definite public importance.

On the minimum monthly wage of RM350 for rubber estate workers announced o­n April 22 this year, Lim described its as insufficient when the current poverty line is RM1,200 a month per household in Malaysia (Third Outline Perspective Plan 2001-2010).

"This is not enough even for o­ne person let alone an entire family," he said.

According to him, there is nothing much to rejoice o­n the 2003 May Day, as Malaysian workers are confronted with a multiple crisis of the economy, Parliament, labour relations, EPF and MTUC.

"A study has warned that the deleterious impact of Sars, aggravated by a growing uncertainty, could affect many more sectors in Asia, productivity, profitability, trade and foreign investments, with the Asian economy likely to suffer a loss of RM$40-200 billion," he said.

Meanwhile, Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez said that in order to sustain its economic growth and patronage politics, Malaysia practises highly exploitative policies.

Unkindest cut

She said, the amendments to the Immigration Act which provides for mandatory whipping for undocumented workers is not o­nly inhuman but violates fundamental rights of workers who are migrants.

"It is in fact a form of torture. Amnesty International has filed a complaint to the Special Rapporteur o­n Torture.

"Further to this development, the Immigration authorities have come out with a new policy where workers who have filed labor dispute cases can o­nly continue to stay in the country if they are able to find sponsors," she added.

According to her, the sponsor must take responsibility over the workers, including housing, feeding and caring for them. The sponsor must also ensure that the worker is not gainfully employed.

"In short, the authorities do not want workers to file cases of labor dispute. Workers who are unfairly dismissed or wages unpaid or have been abused and beaten up, should leave the country and not seek redress. And if this is not the unkindest cut to workers, what is it then!," she asked.

Fernandez also ticked off the Employees Provident Fund for giving the lowest dividends for the last 30 years.

"The truth is that investments have gone out in the form of bailouts to cronies of the current regime. Workers money is used with arrogance to save unprofitable companies. This is indeed a violation of the trust put o­n the EPF Board by workers," she added.

Fatal consequences

In its May Day message, Suaram said that the two biggest human tragedies in 2003 - the Iraq war and the Sars epidemic - have fatal consequences for workers.

It said that the o­nly people who profit from the Iraq war are the crony companies of US President George W Bush through the oil assets in Iraq while other economics, including Malaysia's, suffer terrible consequences.

The Sars epidemic, Suaram added, has important lessons for workers. By force of circumstances, workers are not in a position to protect themselves adequately from this disease.

It also claimed that if the cause of Sars is pursued, the environmentally unfriendly method of breeding livestock spurred o­n by the search for quick profits will be found to be the source of this viral outbreak.