Opposition party DAP today invited Barisan National's MIC to take a common stand in rejecting the recent agreement between plantation owners and unionised workers for a minimum monthly wage of RM350.

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang ( right ) said MIC should support his party's move to increase the minimum monthly wage for plantation workers and to provide these workers with proper housing facilities.

"The MIC at its general assembly o­n Saturday must take a stand for a fair and just deal and demand a minimum living monthly salary of at least RM750 together with permanent housing scheme for rubber estate workers," he said in a statement.

In an agreement inked o­n April 22, the Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) and the Malaysian Agricultural Producers Association (Mapa) agreed to end a 40-year struggle for a better salary scheme for about 58,000 plantation workers.

Rosy picture

Lim said MIC, the largest and oldest Indian-based party in the country, should not forget its roots and turn its back o­n the estate workers, majority of whom are Indian Malaysians.

He also DAP's stand that the RM350 minimum wage was "a poor and miserable excuse for a salary in 21st-century Malaysia.", adding that this amount was much lower than the government's poverty line of RM1,200 a month per household.

The veteran politician added that his party had always demanded for a minimum salary of RM750 per month and a permanent housing scheme.

Other non governmental organisations like the Plantation Workers Support Committee and Indian Consultative Council have joined political parties such as DAP and yet-to-be-registered PSM in opposing the minimum wage deal.

However o­n April 25, MIC president S Samy Vellu painted a rosy picture of the deal, saying that it would bring out a change in the estate community and lead to better pay for the workers

Special resolution

Lim also expressed regret that no MIC leader spoke against the low minimum wage in three important MIC meetings that was held in the past two weeks - the MIC Federal Territory convention, the MIC Wanita and Youth Assemblies.

Lim also reminded Samy Vellu ( left ) that in April 2002, the MIC chief had described as "ridiculous and unacceptable" of Mapa's offer of RM325 as minimum monthly wage for estate workers, saying that the "rate is unreasonable, even car washers get better pay these days".

Lim said MIC can make amends to the situation by making a special resolution at its general assembly o­n Saturday calling for a better deal for plantation workers.

After witnessing the signing of the deal last month, Human Resources Minister Dr Fong Chan o­nn said the amount was o­nly a basic monthly guarantee, that would o­nly be paid if the workers' salary falls below the quantum due to circumstances beyond their control, like bad weather or low yield.

Under the deal - backdated from Jan 1 this year and which will remain in effect until 2005 - the plantation workers will be assured of a minimum salary of RM350 if their earnings for the month fall below this quantum.The deal also provides for an increase in other benefits, such as housing and shift allowance.

The deal will cost Mapa about RM145 million to workers over the duration of the agreement.The association will also pay RM140 ex-gratia per month to every worker for the period from Jan 1 to Dec 31 last year.