Plantation giant Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd today gave its assurance that it was serious about settling outstanding issues involving housing and compensation for its employees at its estates nationwide, particularly two in Perak and one in Selangor.

Guthrie Plantations Operations General Manager Zakaria Ramli said negotiations with Ladang Bukit Jelutong ex-workers was proceeding 'reasonably well' thanks to a newly-established task force comprising eight members from various divisions within the company.

The 27 families of ex-workers have already sought legal redress , which has been postponed to next January.

"We are trying not to be high-handed. We are listening more and trying to reason out with our people, the ex-workers," Zakaria told malaysiakini when met in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

"We've adopted a different approach with the setting up of a dedicated attempt to handle specific issues and Ladang Bukit Jelutong is a good example of how much ground we have gained after six meetings."

He said the talks were initiated following the setting-up of the task force, which he chairs, last June.

"One problem we face is that too many parties are involved such as political parties and individuals with either ulterior motives and vested interests," he added.

The ex-army captain with 10 years service who joined the plantation industry in 1979 said it was impossible for Guthrie to meet all the ex-workers' demands.

However, he was optimistic over the Ladang Bukit Jelutong case, describing the prospect of resolving all outstanding issues there as 'looking bright'.

Demolition compensation

He noted that one matter which could pose a problem, he said, was the ex-workers' demand for RM40,000 compensation per head.

"It will be quite impossible to justify such a huge payment to shareholders. But we did agree on several demands such as allocating an acre of land for a temple and long houses for 11 ex-workers' families at Bukit Subang 2. We have also agreed to pay a monthly rental of RM450 for another 16 families for two years," said Zakaria

Four other ex-workers Ladang Bukit Jelutong have agreed to accept RM10,000 in cash, he added.

The ex-workers want Guthrie to provide them with low-cost housing in Bukit Subang 2 at RM25,000 per unit but the company is sticking to its final offer of RM35,000.

Guthrie has also asked ex-workers for copies of police reports detailing their estimated losses incurred during the demolition of their estate quarters in 2002 and other documents that could help to substantiate their compensation claims.

"And in a gesture of goodwill, we will consider the request for retirement gratuity for 10 ex-workers at Elmina Estate (nearby to Ladang Bukit Jelutong) who have not been paid, but this on condition that they move out," said Zakaria.

Land allocation and the construction of a Tamil school at Ladang Bukit Jelutong is another thorny issue between both parties.

Relating a meeting with Selangor exco member A Sivalingam earlier yesterday, Zakaria said he was told to proceed with the building of the school - despite objections from the local Parents-Teachers Association - to enable the pupils to have a better learning environment.

The ex-workers are asking for three acres of land for the school building and a field to cater for the 47 pupils but Guthrie is only offering 1.75 acres minus the field on grounds that there is a public field close to the school.

"We agreed to build a double-storey school building with 20 classrooms at Bukit Subang 1 at an estimated cost of RM250,000 but they keep asking for more and this is self-defeating.

"Nevertheless, next week, the Ladang Bukit Jelutong representative will inform me about the decision of the ex-workers after a discussion on some of the remaining issues," said Zakaria.

Assemblyman rapped

Contacted later, the ex-workers' spokesperson V Vani confirmed that negotiations with Guthrie were underway.

"Discussions are still going on over the land allocation and construction of a church, temple and the school," she revealed.

"We have also agreed to eventually move to Bukit Subang 2 but we're asking for the units there to be sold to us at RM25,000 each."

"Half of the ex-workers have also asked to move to long houses while some preferred to move to rented houses which Guthrie has agreed to pay for," she confirmed.

Vani, chairperson of the local Parents-Teachers Association, however chided Sivalingam for 'interfering' into their affairs.

"He told us to accept Guthrie's offer of a 1.75-acre land for the school or risk losing it all, but we want our own school field. Since we had compromised on the housing, we decided not to forego the original plan for the school," she said.

She said that Sivalingam, state assemblyperson for Ijuk had no right to accept or decline offers on behalf of the ex-workers but should instead try his best to protect their rights.

Sivalingam could not be reached for comment.

Labour disputes involving Malaysian plantation companies have surfaced with regular consistency throughout the years with their hallmark of being bitter and drawn out and more often than not ending up in the courts.

Grassroots activists and workers' rights advocates have asked the government to shutdown the plantation sector following severe neglect of workers' housing, wages and living conditions.