The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) is confident that 80 percent of its four demands will be considered by the government in the 2012 Budget scheduled to be tabled on Oct 7.

Its president, Omar Osman, said Cuepacs had made official request on the matter to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in June and it was hoped that some good news would be announced in the interest of civil servants in the country.

“This is the decision made by the congress based on the demands of civil servants. I really hope that the demands will be considered and that the Malaysian Remuneration Scheme (SSM) will be restructured and improved in terms of grades, salary structures and opportunities for career advancement, to achieve the goal of becoming a high income economy.”

He said this to reporters at an Aidilfitri open house organised by Penang Cuepacs with the cooperation from Bayan Baru Fire and Rescue Station in George Town today.

The four demands made by Cuepacs are on the restructuring of SSM, extension of retirement age from 58 to 60, two months’ bonus for civil servants and the implementation of the Competency Development Integrated Programme or Prospek to replace the Competency Level Evaluation (PTK).

Omar said Cuepacs was also confident with the prime minister’s concern about the 1.2 million civil servants in the country and the government’s ability to meet the demands.

“Each demand is subject to the government’s ability and can be fulfilled as some of them do not involve financial allocation,” he said.

On the demand to have two months’ bonus for civil servants, Omar said it would be a historical event if the government were to agree to it.

“It is hoped that it will be considered. If not two months’ bonus, one or one-and-a-half months’ bonus will do,” he added.

- Bernama